Dean Cates

Dean P. Cates, age 87 of Faribault, died Thursday, January 8, 2015 at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Episcopal Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, with the Rev. Henry Doyle, officiating. Interment will be held at the Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis with military honors.

Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

The family prefers that memorials be directed to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation or the American Diabetes Association/Indiana for Andy Shella Camp Scholarship at 8604 Allisonville Rd., Suite 140, Indianapolis, IN 46250 in memory of Dean.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.

Dean Paul, the son of Dean and Dora (Lenz) Cates, was born on September 7, 1927 in Kingston, MN. He attended Litchfield High School and graduated with the class of 1945. After high school, Dean served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Following his discharge from the Navy, Dean attended the University of Minnesota and was a member of the Wrestling Team. He graduated in 1950 with a degree in Agronomy. In March of 1950 he was united in marriage to Florence Johnson in Minneapolis. Dean's work career began in Cloquet, MN as a county agent for Carlton County. In 1955 he became an insurance agent with New York Life while living in Cloquet. In 1957 they moved to Roseville, MN and Dean worked in management at the New York Life office in St. Paul. He held this position until 1959 when they moved to Faribault and Dean took over the New York Life Agency here and worked until his retirement in 1987. Dean enjoyed his farm and especially loved his horses. He went on several rides with Al Quie and others, but his most memorable trip was crossing the Continental Divide. Dean also enjoyed spending winters at their home in Sedona, AZ. Florence preceded him in death on June 22, 2013. Dean was a member of the Faribault Lions Club and the American Legion Post 43 in Faribault.

He is survived by his children, Mark Cates (and personal friend, Stacy Tuomi) of Pine River, MN, Connie (Jim) Shella of Indianapolis, IN and Lisa (Jack) Lano of Little Falls, MN; by six grandchildren, Dean (Katie) Cates, Liz (Ryan) Faulstick, Joseph Cates and fiancé Gwen, Katherine Shella (David Adair), Callie (Chris) Dobis and Keegan Shoutz (Paul Schroepfer); by two great grandchildren, Grayson Faulstick and Haddlie Dobis; by his brother, Gordy Cates of Hayfield, MN; by his sister, Vivian (Richard) Wright of Ridgecrest, CA and by other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his grandson, Andrew Shella, by two brothers, Dale and Wally Cates and by his nephew Robin Cates.