John Deen

Benjamin Funeral Service - Nowata, OK John Deen, 88, of Nowata passed away on Tuesday, January 20 at Heritage Villa Nursing Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 23 at Benjamin Funeral Home in Nowata. Interment will follow the service in Nowata Memorial Cemetery. John was born December 23, 1926 in Nowata, OK to Oscar and Gertie (Yirsa) Deen. He attended Nowata schools until seventh grade when his parents moved to Delaware where he graduated in 1944. While in high school he proudly played in the band and even drove the school bus. John loved ranching and spent his summers during high school "out at the ranch" at his grandparents in rural Nowata. He continued ranching on his own after graduation until just a few years ago when his health declined. He also began working at National Zinc in 1975 as a supervisor in the Leaching and Purification department until he retired in 1992. John married Jean Rowland in 1948 and they were blessed with two sons. Jean passed away in 1961. Later he married Della (Owens) Claypool in 1963, and they were blessed with a daughter. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Nowata. In his younger years, he sang in the choir, served as an usher, and served on the administrative board. John is survived by his wife Della of fifty-one years; two sons, Bill Deen and his wife Mary of Henderson, Nevada, and Dale Deen and his wife Ann of Honolulu, Hawaii; one daughter, Betty Deen of Nowata; five grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; many cousins and other dear family members. He was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Gertie Deen, his sister Letha (Deen) Weeks and her husband Wayne Weeks, many uncles, aunts, and cousins that were an important part of his life. The family will receive friends at the visitation on Thursday evening, January 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Benjamin Funeral Home in Nowata. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, January 21st, 2015 5:00pm - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Thursday, January 22nd, 2015 8:00am - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, January 23rd, 2015 10:00am, Benjamin Funeral Home

Interment Details

Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery