Dean M. Weissert

Dean M. Weissert of Lincoln, formerly of Eustis, passed away February 21, 2019 at the Legacy Retirement Community in Lincoln at the age of 101. Dean Milton Weissert was born May 1, 1917 to Fred and Jennie Weissert on the family farm seven miles southeast of Eustis, Nebraska in Gosper County, Nebraska. He was baptized in the Methodist Church in infancy and confirmed in the Methodist Church in 1931. Dean attended a rural school and graduated from Eustis Public School in 1936. Dean was drafted into the U.S. Army on October 16, 1941. He completed basic training at Fort Sill. Oklahoma and then attended Communications School at Camp Forrest, Tennessee. After graduating from Communications School, Dean was promoted to Sergeant. From there Dean was transferred to the 89th Division on special duty to the Division Communication School as an instructor for on year and promoted to Staff Sergeant. After that Dean was sent back to the 2nd Battalion, 353rd Regiment, 89th Division as a Platoon Sergeant for six months. In October 1943, Dean was transferred to Camp Shanks, New York, pending embarkation for Europe. In November, at Pier 51 in New York City, New York, Dean boarded the unfinished luxury liner Queen Elizabeth and converted troop ship for the Trans-Atlantic voyage to England. Dean ended up Weymouth, in the southern part of England where as a Staff Sergeant he was assigned as the Battalion Section Wire Chief for telephone communications with the 1st Battalion, 18th Regiment of the 1st Division 9commonly referred to as the Big Red One). On June 6, 1944, Dean landed on that part of Omaha Beach designated as Easy Red with his battalion. Dean survived D-Day and the fighting across France, Belgium and Germany, ending up in Czechoslovakia on May 8, 1945, VE Day without receiving any physical wounds. Dean arrived back home September 25, 1945 and was discharged on October 30, 1945. During his military service, Dean received the Bronze Star Medal with Cluster (in lieu of 2nd Award); the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrow and five service stars for the Normandy landing, and combat operations in Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe; the World War II; the Good Conduct Medal; The National Defense Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. The 18th Regiment, 1st Division of which Dean was assigned also received a Presidential Army Unit Citation for the Normandy Invasion; the 1st Battalion, 18th Regiment was awarded a Presidential Army Unit Citation for combat around Aachen, Germany; and the 18th Regiment also received the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the French Medaille Militaire. Dean was united in marriage to Mary McAninch on August 26, 1947. This union was blessed with three children, Joyce, Carolyn and Brent. Dean raised his family on a farm six miles north and east of Eustis, Nebraska. Mary was taken to her eternal reward on September 26, 1959 and 75 year old Clara Schroder came to keep house and watch the children for four years and the whole family thought the world of her. Dean was then united in marriage to Dorothy Buehner. To this union another son, Jeff, was born. In addition to diversified farming, Dean was active in the United Methodist Church, served on the Eustis Public School Board and was a member of the American Legion. Dean retired from farming in 1984 and he and Dorothy took up residence in Eustis, Nebraska where they became active in the Eustis Senior Center. Dean added making homemade egg noodles at the Senior Center to his busy schedule which included giving talks about his World War II experiences to schools and civic organizations. Dean also began to spend time traveling. What was to become one of the many highlights of Dean's life, was to return in August 2004 to Omaha Beach and many other battle fields where he saw combat during World War II. He was accompanied by his son Jeff and surprised by his daughter Joyce and son Brent on the day they went to visit Omaha Beach. Then in 2008, Dean accompanied by his son Jeff and Jeff's wife Tami, took a 12 day trip to the Holy Land. In May 2009, Dean took a Hero Flight to Washington D.C., accompanied by his daughter Carolyn, where he visited the brand new World War II Memorial and other sights. Not only was he interviewed on national television by Fox News during his visit to the World War II Memorial, but he had the honor of laying a wreath with Bob Metygue of Overton, Nebraska at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. When the soldier walking post at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier learned that Dean had landed on Omaha Beach in the first wave on D-Day morning, he wanted to visit with Dean about the landings and invited Dean to his quarters where members of the Old Guard, the 3rd Infantry Regiment who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier prepare to stand post. Dean's wife, Dorothy, passed away in July 2010. In October 2011, Dean's children moved him to the independent living home, The Legacy, in Lincoln, Nebraska where he could be close to family members. Dean continued to be actively engaged at the Legacy, attending church, lectures, concerts and sporting events as well as taking a variety of tours in and around Nebraska as well as to Kansas City, Missouri. He was very much into keeping in shape and exercised religiously every day. Two things Dean always looked forward to were having Sunday Brunch with family members and happy hour with his friends at the Legacy. Surviving Dean are daughters, Joyce (Dennis) Day of Beatrice, NE and Carolyn (Jonathan) Schwarz of Lincoln, NE; sons, Brent Weissert of Lincoln, NE and Jeff (Tami) Weissert of LaGrange, GA; 4 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, Mary Lampe and Mia, Elise, Sara, Coy and Kai Gerten of Beatrice, NE, Tom (Denise) Lampe and Caroline, Hanna and Olivia of Morresville, NC, Jeremy (Brooke) Schwarz and Gavin and Carson of Lincoln, NE and Jennifer (Dayne) Crawford and Brooklynn, Jayce and Kayda of Buckeye, AZ; bother-in-law, Kenneth McAninch of Arvada, CO; as well as many nieces and nephews. Dean was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Oscar and Mark Weissert. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to the Arthritis Foundation, PTSD Foundation of America, Wounded Warrior Project or the EOD Warrior Foundation. Services will be Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Eustis United Methodist Church with Pastor Neil Kloppenborg officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Eustis East Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday, February 25, 2019 from 4pm to 7pm at Eustis United Methodist Church, family will be present. Berryman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.