Dean Reum -- Sept. 15, 1970 - April 25, 2006

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Isaiah 57:1:

1 The righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.

Psalm 116:15: 

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
       is the death of his saints.

It was September 1970 when our dear brother Dean was born.  Born in New Westminster BC, the second last son to proud parents Bob and Audrey Reum.  Dean spent the first 13 years of his life in Langley BC growing up with his two brothers Darcy and Todd helping Dad and Mom in spare time after school doing chores and developing a parcel of land that Dad developed into a senior citizen mobile home park.  Weekends and school nights were filled with little league baseball, soccer games and camping trips.  (Todd) “I always played on his baseball teams in little league but was usually known as the star players little brother.  I didn’t mind though because I really looked up to him and was proud to be his kid brother.  I remember at his grade three-birthday party he invited all girls!  At the time I thought what the heck?  Now looking back I knew he was one smart dude!

Summer vacations were spent in the Peace River country on the family’s homestead later named Triple R Bar ranch after the Reum boys with the brand as lazy r over the number 3. Many miles were driven every summer in the old pickup to get to the family farm in the mighty peace and to pass the time driving we wore out a many Roger Miller and Johnny Horton tape, it wasn’t rare to hear us singing “King of the Road” as we drove the old hwy 40 to the homestead with dad at the wheel. Hot summer days in the beginning on the homestead were filled with root picking, burning bush piles, working the land, dirt biking, horseback riding, hunting grouse and cooling off at the end of the day with a dip in the family dugout. Dean was just entering his first year as a teen when Dad came home one day and said, “Lets move to the homestead and go ranching!” It was a dream come true and really shaped Dean’s life, all of ours in fact and taught us everything from running machinery, mechanics to animal husbandry and more. 

Dean spent four years from grade 8 to12 in secondary school in Sexsmith Alberta where all us brothers drove together daily from the family ranch on that 30-minute trek down the highway to Sexsmith.  We had so many great times as we watched our brother bonds grow stronger through out our teenage years.  Dean entertained and enriched the lives of others, especially that of his family.  There was the time he accidentally drove right over top of Dads new T-bird with the dual wheels of the tractor he was driving while on his way to feed the cows, he didn’t see the car because he had a round hay bale loaded on the front end loader and when it was over it made the monster truck contest look like kids play!  Dad saw it happen from the steps of the house and he wasn’t too impressed.  We all had a good laugh over that one, Dean though went running for the bush, we finally caught up to him and told him it’s ok, at least no one was hurt.  He finally laughed too and had to admit he did a mighty fine job on that one and wondered if he had a career in the monster truck car crushing business.  Later that same year he drove off in his pickup with an antique dresser handed down from great grandpa that was in the back of the truck unsecured, Mom had asked Dean to take it out before heading off that night but Dean forgot about it.  The next morning when mom went to ask Dean where he had put the family heirloom, it was nowhere to be found.  It had flown out of the back of the truck while Dean headed off down the country road that day and the only thing to be found lying in the middle of the road was a stack of kindling!

Our brother traveled with the Drama team while in high school and excelled in theater sports, basketball soccer and volleyball.  Dean graduated from high school in 1988 and after taking a year off to work on the family ranch he headed off to college on a full baseball scholarship in Susanville California with the Lassen College Cougars.  (Todd) “I remember he almost didn’t go because of a girl!  We were all young in the prime of our youth, Dean was about 19 I remember; I really believed in my brother and knew he had an excellent chance of making the big leagues except for one boundary, a girl!  When I saw that he might not go because of his teenage crush I convinced my brother Darc to help me wrestle him down and we tied him up so he could hear us speak some logic to him on the issue, boy did he put up some fight!  It took all the strength from the two of us.  Though it may sound harsh to you it what we did, we did it in love. We just wanted what we thought was best for him like any brother would do. Dean went on to pursue his scholarship and made first string his starting year, we were so proud of him for his accomplishments and he was so humble about it.  He later thanked us for speaking the truth to him that day and we had a good laugh over it many times throughout the years…” He enrolled in Criminal Justice and graduated with his degree from Great Falls Montana in 1992.

After College Dean was an auxiliary constable with the Spirit River RCMP and worked as a youth worker with Alberta Family and Social Services from 1993-1995.  Our brother had a lot of compassion for the less fortunate and he spent many of his off hours with the youth and family on his caseload.  There were many times too when he would bring the kids he worked with out to the family ranch so they could cut loose and just be their selves and get away from it all, if even for just one night.  He had the blessings and opportunity of growing up on the ranch and wanted to share it with those who didn’t have the chance to have such an opportunity.  He was so blessed and so thankful, as we all are for what Mom and Dad gave us…

In 1996 Dean joined his brothers in their espresso cart and drive thru coffee business with locations in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver BC.  At one time during our business together in Calgary during the stampede Dean forgot to secure a steel grating that led down into a parkade that ran the power lines for the cappuccino cart.  Todd stepped on the grating at the end of the day and plummeted 14 feet to the bottom landing on his back. We remember Dean yelling, “Todd’s gone, Dad, Todd’s Gone!”  We eventually branched out into other businesses in Vancouver until 2001.  While on the west coast Dean explored every logging road, mountain trail and back wood stream.  He never ran out of stories to tell.  He was a traveler and his favorite spot by far was Alaska.  He made it to Alaska twice and told us so many stories of his adventures there including one close call while fly fishing in a mountain stream and nearly bumping head on into a grizzly and her cubs!  There were so many stories and adventures that Dean shared with us to numerous to mention, but we hold them forever in our heart. We eventually sold out the businesses and moved back to our roots in the Peace country.  It was so good to be back in God’s country.

Dean moved back to the Peace River country and his career shifted to the oil and gas industry.  In 2002 Dean was married and resided in Grande Prairie.  His off time hours were spent kayaking in the backcountry, traveling and hitting the roads on his Triumph dual-purpose motorcycle.   Some of his motorcycle high lights were a trip to Mexico and all over the west coast of the US.  He also dreamed of making it to South America this summer on his bike.   Just over a month ago Dean explored all over the Philippines and we all longed to get together to share the experiences and the photos, though we didn’t get the chance here Dean we promise to get together as a family and look at all the photos you took and dream with you.  Were so sorry Dean that we didn’t make the time but the way you were so non chalant about life we thought we had plenty of time, if we could just go back one more time we’d give anything.

Dean passed away doing what he loved; motorcycling and we celebrate his life from this day forward.  I know that Dean would want us to laugh and be happy for him because he is finally at peace and now has the greatest love with his creator that no brother, father, mother or wife could ever imagine giving.  We love you so much Dean and we know that your alive in Christ and our family looks forward to the day we will be able to sing around the throne for all of eternity.  

by Brothers Darcy and Todd 

A Travelin’ Sunshine Country Clown  

by Mother Audrey

Oh how memories come flooding of all the years gone by

It seems only yesterday

A second son grew beneath my heart.

A funny little clown, preparing for his first act.

The sun shone so bright that day.

Thru golden leaves of fall,

Now two little sunbeams, we prayed no clouds would darken.

To find a name that suited for your round & chubby face,

Was taking far too long.

Nurses rushed you to me, Pink ribbon in your dark hair.

“This baby’s name is overdue – He will be named SUE”

Dad said – “Hurry”, No little Sue will do…

Name him little Dean.

Your big brother loved to hold you.

Sometimes bite your nose, or kiss you.

A bond grew so strong between you,

No knife could cut the cord.

Your clowning funny faces,

In reaction to a welcome…

To a tiny baby brother,

Was a giggle and a dance.

The years went by, bonds stronger grew

Introduced to all adventures:

Kayaking rapids & the rivers.

The mountains lure of hiking trails

Campfires to end the day

A guitar to pluck

Harmonica to hum

The years of travel

To hear your say “You should have seen what I saw,

As I climbed the higher mountains, or crossed thru Valleys Deep…

Alaska is my favorite, you ought to come and see.”

Oh how We’d love son,

To accept that invitation.

Until then – around our campfires we’ll share life memories of you.

Your love for life & God

Your soft & gentle spirit

Your clowning funny faces that brought laughter

To a sad & hurting face

How could we forget that clown within our lives.

Dearest Son:  We’ll see you in the morning,

Wrap my arms around you tightly

Thank God He loaned you to us,
There is no clown like you.

God, might I just add,

I’m sure You have a sense of humor,

But Dean… could add some more.

For Heaven could never have enough Deans – who like to clown.

Enjoy him God

He is the Greatest Clown,

I know that’s why you chose him

So we’ll turn another page in the Lesson Book of Life.

 Mother: Audrey Reum  

We miss you dean! Our family is not the same without you, but we know your with the Lord and we rest in that peace and assurance that only God can bring

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