In Memory Of
M. Dean Bierhaus
1924
2022
M. Dean Bierhaus
June 4, 1924 — April 8, 2022
Melvin Dean Bierhaus was born on June 4th, 1924 in Campbell, Nebraska, the youngest of 5 children. He lost his mother when he was just 4 years old and was raised by his father and older sisters in Nebraska and later the gold mining town of Central City, Colorado.
Dean served in the US Army Air Corps as a sergeant from November 1942 until January 1946, and spent part of his service stationed near Blackpool, England. He met Jessie, the love of his life, during this time, persevering in his courtship despite a few raised eyebrows in Jessie's very Yorkshire family. One story he loved to tell was how he spent a precious day of leave travelling from Blackpool to Huddersfield by train, and then walked the 2 miles from Huddersfield station to Jessie's house in Lockwood, only for her father to open the door, tell him Jessie wasn't at home, and close the door again, sending him all the way back to Blackpool disappointed.
Dean and Jessie had met only four times when Jessie sailed to America for their wedding. Famously, Dean was not at Denver station to meet her because he'd been delayed when mortgaging his car – all GIs had to guarantee a passage home for the bride to be, in case the romance didn't work out. Not something Dean and Jessie ever needed to worry about; they were married on December 13th, 1946, and their long, devoted marriage lasted 68 years until Jessie's death in 2014.
Dean began his career as a photographer in Golden, Colorado, and then ran a successful business in photography-related sales. He often travelled with Jessie to England and to Germany, where his family originated.
Dean was a remarkable man, a gentleman in every sense of the word, with a spring in his step, a sparkle in his eye, and a unique, deeply courteous way of being. His kindness and gentle humor will always light the memories of we who were lucky enough to know him.
Dean was a man of faith, and on April 8th, 2022, at the age of 97, he left us for heaven, where Jessie and the angels were waiting. He and Jessie had three daughters; he is survived by daughters Cheryl Burchett and Joy Lloyd, three grandchildren Lynnette, Eric and Adrian, and many great grandchildren.
Dean served in the US Army Air Corps as a sergeant from November 1942 until January 1946, and spent part of his service stationed near Blackpool, England. He met Jessie, the love of his life, during this time, persevering in his courtship despite a few raised eyebrows in Jessie's very Yorkshire family. One story he loved to tell was how he spent a precious day of leave travelling from Blackpool to Huddersfield by train, and then walked the 2 miles from Huddersfield station to Jessie's house in Lockwood, only for her father to open the door, tell him Jessie wasn't at home, and close the door again, sending him all the way back to Blackpool disappointed.
Dean and Jessie had met only four times when Jessie sailed to America for their wedding. Famously, Dean was not at Denver station to meet her because he'd been delayed when mortgaging his car – all GIs had to guarantee a passage home for the bride to be, in case the romance didn't work out. Not something Dean and Jessie ever needed to worry about; they were married on December 13th, 1946, and their long, devoted marriage lasted 68 years until Jessie's death in 2014.
Dean began his career as a photographer in Golden, Colorado, and then ran a successful business in photography-related sales. He often travelled with Jessie to England and to Germany, where his family originated.
Dean was a remarkable man, a gentleman in every sense of the word, with a spring in his step, a sparkle in his eye, and a unique, deeply courteous way of being. His kindness and gentle humor will always light the memories of we who were lucky enough to know him.
Dean was a man of faith, and on April 8th, 2022, at the age of 97, he left us for heaven, where Jessie and the angels were waiting. He and Jessie had three daughters; he is survived by daughters Cheryl Burchett and Joy Lloyd, three grandchildren Lynnette, Eric and Adrian, and many great grandchildren.
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