85-year-old Fairfield resident, Dean Van Tassel died at 7 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he had been a teacher at Neoga High School, Joliet High School and Joliet Junior College. Following retirement, he moved back to Fairfield and taught part time at Frontier Community College and also tutored math. He was a member of the First Christian Church where he served as an elder, teacher and mentor.
Survivors include two sons, Ron and wife Elaine Van Tassel of St. Anne, IL and Andrew and wife Pam Van Tassel of Plainfield, IL; four daughters, Kathy Van Tassel of Carmi, Patty Visinaiz of Frankfort, IL, Judy and husband David Read of Fairfield and Heather and husband Philip Pummill of Oklahoma City, OK; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He was also a father to over 80 foster children.
Funeral services for Dean Van Tassel will be 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 1 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield with a graveside service at 1:30 p.m. at the Greenup Cemetery in Greenup, IL.
Visitation will be 3 – 7 Sunday evening, Jan. 31 at Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield.
Memorials may be made to the Compassion for Pregnancy Center and will be accepted at Nale’s Funeral Home in Fairfield.