Dean G. Fickenscher, age 71, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2016, due to multiple complications post heart surgery. He courageously battled, and even rallied for a brief bit, before finding peace and going home to God.

Dean was born on January 8, 1945, in Ft. Sill, OK to parents Arthur and Erma Fickenscher, and raised in Moorefield, NE. Always the instigator, Dean had no problem finding fun in a small town for himself, his brother and three sisters. Once, he dared his sister Connie to go to church in a daisy hat he had bought her (with a daisy sticking up in the air), just to see how the little old ladies would react. Creating many memories and stories for those that knew him best. After graduating from Kansas State University with a degree in Horticulture, he went to work for the Boys Vocational School in Kearney, NE.

From there he moved to Curtis, NE where he was a horticulture instructor at UNSTA. There he made many life long friends, including one young kid, Gene Hansen, who would soon introduce Dean to his sister, Carol Hansen. It was a quick courtship and on June 12, 1976 they married. Together they had two beautiful daughters whom he was always very proud of. In 1985, Dean moved his family to San Antonio, TX where he enjoyed the warmer weather while working as Director of Volunteer Services for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department for many years. He loved spending time with his family, coworkers and his best friends, the “Guys” on the street.

Dean had a brilliant mind and always found a way to turn a hobby into a business. Whether that was his love for plants that grew to an enormous business (Fickenscher’s Hilltop Nursery), orchids that he grew and sold to flower shops or angel fish that he raised in his garage and sold to pet shops. After a recent trip to Italy that sparked an interest in growing olives, he then planted 7 species of olive trees in the backyard. Dean loved his travels and would yearly plan a month long trip with his wife and various family members. His favorites being China, Russia, Africa and Germany. But his favorite adventures were local trips to the coast with his family to watch his grandkids play in the sand and surf.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Erma, and brother Earl Fickenscher. He is survived by his wife, Carol, daughters Tara (Jason) Gregg and Lisa (Chris) Hill, four grandkids who thought the world of “Pops” and his three loving sisters Lynette Beerman, Connie Fickenscher and Gwen Davidson.

A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Sunday, February 28 with doors open at 2pm at Porter Loring North.

Porter Loring Mortuary North, Friday, February 26, 2016