Dean Sprague, age 80, of North Platte, Nebraska passed away at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte on October 11, 2020.
Dean was born to Perry and Annie Sprague in Holdrege, Nebraska on June 27, 1940. He graduated from Holdrege High School, and later from BusinessManagement Schooling.
Dean met the love of his life, Carrie Combs, in Holdrege and they were
united in marriage on December 1, 1961, in Kansas City, Missouri. While
living in Kansas City, they had the first two of three children, Scott
in Jan. 1961, and Shayne in Dec. 1963. It wasn't until 1971 when Shannon
was born.
Dean had a varied career, first working for his dad at his gas station
and later, his dad's T.V., radio, and electrical repair shop. He would
go on to work for companies such as Ronson Lighter Company, Gambles, and several others. Dean moved around during his career to such places as Kansas City, MO, Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, Aurora, CO, and finally,
North Platte, NE in 1971, where he made his home for the rest of his life.
While in North Platte, Dean worked as a salesman at Sears, and would
later install all the chain link fence that Sears sold, which was miles
of fencing. He also worked for the North Platte Telegraph as a rural
route carrier, was a projectionist at the Fox Movie Theater, and owned
and operated Platte Repair, which was in the rear of the Platte Barber
Shop on Dewey Street, and later relocated to the 100 block of West 5th
Street. He could repair everything that is mostly just thrown away these
days, including T.V.'s, radios, blenders, shavers, can openers, lamps,
and nearly anything else electrical. Dean later worked as an
electrician in the Union Pacific Diesel Shop for 17 years, up until the mid
90's. He also started and operated Professional Heating & A/C with his
son, Shayne, from 1995-2000, after which he retired and enjoyed his time with his wife and family.
Dean could fix just about anything and built his own house in the early
80's and remodeled several homes aside from that. He was a very kind
hearted man that would do anything for anybody, and was always doing
something for somebody. He was known for his great sense of humor,
tremendous physical strength, and his constant teasing and harassing of
just about everyone he came across. While at the railroad, he was
infamous for his "bear hugs". He'd get his arm around your neck, pull
you in, and plant a kiss on your cheek, and there wasn't much you could
do about it because of his strength.
In his final years, Dean was infamous for constantly passing out
Lifesavers to everyone, he always ensured that his pockets were full of
the candy to hand out.
Dean was also a man of great faith, and he lived his life accordingly.
Always a fair, honest, and just man that stood up for what he believed
in and for what was right. He and Carrie took their daughter, Shannon,
into their home during her last 6 months on earth after a long back and
forth battle with cancer. They loved and cared for her until the day she
died in the recliner in their living room in 2013. Neither Dean nor
Carrie ever got over the loss of their beloved daughter, but they were
grateful to have had that final time with her.
Dean and Carrie were very much in love with each other, and if you ever
saw them together, that fact was obvious and noticeable.
Dean's legacy will be how he treated everybody and instilled in his
children to "Treat Others As You Want To Be Treated." He did, indeed,
live his own life in that manner. Dean was a remarkable man who will be
deeply missed by his family and friends.
Along with his daughter, Shannon, Dean was preceded in death by his
father, Perry; mother, Annie; and sister, Doris Nelson.
Survivors include his wife, Carrie of North Platte, NE; his sons, Scott (Cheryl) Sprague, of Jerome, ID and Shayne (Jessica) Sprague, of Brady, NE; former but still part of the family,daughter-in-law, Tami Sprague, of Morrison, CO; 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and other family.
Services will be at a later date at Prairie View Cemetery in Holdrege, Nebraska. Dean, Carrie, and Shannon made the decision some time ago to have their ashes, as well as the ashes of their beloved dogs, Buddy and Sombra, inurned at the same time as one Celebration of Life together.
In lieu of flowers or donations in memory of Dean, the family asks that
you, too, treat others as you want to be treated, the way Dean lived his
life. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial
Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.