Dean E. Gustin passed away Oct 12, 2026, at DHR Health Hospice in Edinburgh, TX, at the age of 93 years young. He was born in Racine, WI, on May 6th, 1933. Oldest son of the late Dean S. Gustin and Belva P. (Nee: Elliott) Gustin. While he was in the Army at Ft. Benning, GA, he married Barbara Diane Welsh at Holy Family Church in Columbus, GA, November 5, 1953.

As a teenager, Dean played around 19th Street and Lathrop Avenue viaduct, throwing stones at the train cars. Dean loved to fish and hunt for crabs in the Root River and sell his daily catch to all the Hobos living in tents next to the tracks. He didn’t fear anyone, as they were kind and paid well for his daily catches. Dean enjoyed being a caddie at the Racine Country Club, where he learned how to golf from some of Racine’s finest golfers. At his best, Dean had a six handicap and has a recorded Hole in One. Right out of Horlick High School, Dean joined the Army and did his training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and served his Country for two years until the end of the Korean Conflict. Dean worked hard as an Omar Driver / Salesman in SE Wisconsin in the 60’s and even a Eureka Vacuum Salesman.

Dean then received the opportunity to join the Racine Jaycees (a business group for young men). Dean’s hard work in this group of entrepreneurs landed him an apprenticeship at AMC Chrysler, where he became a Machine Repairman for 32 years. He later rejoiced in the fact that he has been retired longer than he worked at AMC / Chrysler, to the glory of God! Dean was an avid Snowmobiler and active member of the Eskimo Snowmobile Club. He often coordinated weekend snowmobile activities. Dean loved to fish for walleye and perch and deer hunt, which he did when in season. Dean took his kids across our great state of Wisconsin to camp, glamp and tramp as travels go. Dean belonged to the Royal Caribbean Cruise Club and enjoyed ocean /island voyages too many to recount, and always with his wife or children, for they were his real treasure and joy. Books cannot contain the amount of his personal time he sacrificed for the enjoyment of his family and friends. Dean, as a youth, was a member of the Church of Nazarene and converted to Catholicism, attending St. John Nepomuk, when he married his beloved wife, Barbara Diane. Dean was an avid Racine Raider and Green Bay Packer football fan.

Dean was a member of Community Christian Church and then started going to attend Hope Community Church in Racine, WI, where his son Bill was the Worship Leader. When in Texas, Dean loved attending Church via Facebook Live. His favorite preacher was Yuni Nfor. Dean’s passions were building puzzles, working out all his brain games, such as Wordle, Quordle, Spelling Bee, Cryptoquips, Jumble, and Sudoku. Dean shared his love of these games with weekly emails that will be missed. Who among us will pick this mantle up and keep his memory alive?

Survivors include his children, Connie (Mike) Lombard of Menomonie, WI; Bill Gustin of Racine, WI; Mike of Burlington, WI; Brian (Carrie) Gustin of Racine, WI; Mary (Willie) Anderson of Alamo, TX; Barbara (Wolf) Cole of Savannah, TN; at least 18 Grandchildren, over 30 Great Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren; his older sister Maxine Cornwell; and younger brothers Richard and Ronald.

Dean is preceded in death by his wife Barbara Diane; sons Dean Edward and Thomas Wayne; his brothers Jim, Terry, and David Gustin; and sister Donna Bolin; and Daughters-in-Law: Laura (Mike) Gustin, Shelly (Brian) Gustin, and Jill (Bill) Gustin; and other relatives.

A memorial service celebrating Dean’s life will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Thursday, October 29th,2026 at 12:00PM. Visitation will be held in the funeral home on Thursday from 11:00AM until the time of service. Inurnment next to his son Dean and wife Barbara Diane will immediately follow this service at 2pm in the chapel at Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to his favorite charities are requested:

· Harvest Outreach Food Bank, 2000 DeKoven Ave, Racine, WI 53403

· Hope Community Church, 5040 Northwestern Ave, Racine, WI 53406, marked for: “Kenya Missions Funds”.

· Rio Grande Valley Food Bank, a non-profit organization, 724 No. Cage Blvd, Pharr, TX 78577 (foodbankrgv.com).

· Alamo Palms Scholarship Fund, a non-profit organization, EIN-45-2476912, 1341 W Bus Hwy 83, Alamo, TX 78516.