Dean Malone

Russell “Dean” Malone, 84 of Chariton, Iowa passed away May 29, 2022, surrounded by family and love.  Services will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa with visitation Thursday at 10:00 a.m. and a luncheon to follow. 

Dean was born on January 26, 1938, to Isaac Merrill and Boonie Marline (Clark) Malone in Derby, Iowa. He grew up in Chariton, Iowa and graduated from Chariton High School in 1956.  After serving two years in the Marine Corps, Dean returned to Chariton and married Margaret “Maggie” Ann Hixson.  Following an accident on a job site in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1963, Dean went to a trade school in Oklahoma to become a project engineer and spent his career as a Project Manager/Construction Superintendent for Weitz, CH Level, Taylor Ball and Breiholz Construction companies. 

Dean and family spent several years living outside of Iowa and in 1989, he relocated back to Lucas County and has spent the past 30 plus years on his beloved acreage.  He enjoyed the gatherings of his Class of ’56, birthday parties, holidays, celebrations and attending his grandchildren and great grandchildren’s sporting events. Life to him was really about just living in the moment. 

Dean was an avid hunter and loved spending times outdoors with friends and family on road trips, deer hunting, mushroom hunting or just reminiscing under the tree and always while enjoying an Old Milwaukee.  To his wife’s dismay, he loved birds of all sorts (yes, even the peacocks) and wildlife.  For many years he would “foster” a new baby raccoon and they were all affectionately referred to as “Cooney.” The racoons were never held captive and always left on their own accord, but one particular year, after maybe more than a few Old Milwaukee beers, Maggie came home to find Dean on his knees sobbing and trying to dig a hole to bury that year’s “Cooney.”  She stood there astounded as “Cooney” ran behind him and she had to let him know he was burying a dead racoon, but it was not his “Cooney!”  He never lived that one down.       

Dean held many different titles in his 84 years; that of son, brother, cousin, class mate, Animal, husband, father, boss, but his absolute favorite of all, was “Papa.”  He loved and adored each and every one of his beautiful grandchildren and great grandchildren and they returned that affection ten-fold. He knew how truly blessed he was.       

Dean is survived by his wife Maggie of 63 years, children; Stacy Malone of Des Moines, Brant (Tena) Malone of Chariton and Buzz (Lorri) Malone of Cedar Rapids, brother; Max Malone of Indianola and son in law; Randy Mateer of Norwalk. 

He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren; Travis (Katelyn), Tori and Trey Mateer, Meggie (Jamie Mundth) Malone, Madison (Brett) Dowell, Cassie (Bill) Lewis, Tony (Annie), Jesse (Rachel) and Mason Malone, two step grandchildren; Levi and Reagan Etter, great grandchildren; Lennon Mateer, Adley and Axle Walsh, Ansley and Aiden Mundth, Lynex and Novak Keller, Mac and MacKenzie Befort, Billy and Nova Lewis, Oliver, Lucy, Roxy, Elly and Baby Malone arriving in September 2022.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Merrill and Marline (Clark) Malone, sisters; Twyla Cromer, Inez Quinn and Fern Baze, daughter; Brenda Marie Mateer and granddaughter; Cortney J’Ann Malone, father-in-law; Robert Hixson, mother-in-law; Esther (Blankenburg) Hixson, brothers in law; Donald Frank and Ronald Craig Hixson, Donald “Wimp” Brown, sisters in law; Janis Marie Brown, Sharon Elaine Mersch, nephews; Phil Brown, Brian Hixson and life-long partner in crime; Jerry “Tub” Shriver.     

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dean Malone, please visit our floral store.