Dean Weller, 95, of De Soto passed away on July 2, 2021. A funeral service will be held at De Soto Baptist Church, 8655 Copeland Way, De Soto, KS at 2:00 pm, Friday July 9, 2021. The visitation will precede the service at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow the service at De Soto Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to De Soto Baptist Church in memory of Dean Weller. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com.
Dean was born in Mountain View, MO to Charles and Mae (Ellis) Weller. As a teen he joined the Merchant Marines during WW II. When he came home from the war, he married Delores J. Allen in 1945. Dean built and operated a gas station in Mountain View and later moved to Oregon. The couple then moved to De Soto, KS, where Dean built the El Rancho Motel which they owned for 29 years. Dean also owned Weller Construction and built houses until he retired at age 52. He retired when he bought the old Ford building, known as “Grandpa’s Garage” in De Soto where he built antique cars piece by piece, including tooling the engine parts. He enjoyed meeting with fellow car enthusiasts weekly in his shop and periodically hosted hands-on seminars there. Dean was a member of “Plain Old A’s” Club as well as Heart of America Car Club in Lawrence. He was a former member of Rotary and Oddfellows.
Dean was preceded in death by his wife, Delores; his parents: Charles and Mae; siblings: Fern Tate and Guy Richard Weller, and grandchildren: Greg Haynes, Chris Elliott, and Colby King. He is survived by children: Shirley (Richard) Haynes, Wheatland, Mo, Janet North (Larry), Spring Hill, Ks, and Deana Chance, De Soto, KS; grandchildren: Matthew Haynes, Michael Haynes, Stacy Thomas, Kelly King, Corey King, and Cody King and sister, Alma Holden, Mountain View, MO. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.