Dean Francis Howarth passed away on January 26th, 2026 at the age of 80 in Eugene, Oregon. He was born on December 18th, 1945 to Velda and Roderick Howarth in Ottumwa, Iowa. Dean lived a full life centered on family, service to his community, enjoyment of nature and travel, and lifelong learning. His kindness, curiosity and calm presence defined his spirit and provided sources of strength for those who were fortunate enough to call him friend or family.

Dean met his wife Margy while at Van Buren Community High School, beginning a love story that would last a lifetime. Margy and Dean attended Drake University together before being married in 1968. After graduating, Dean joined the United States Navy taking the couple to the East Coast where he graduated from the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, received his commission, and served in the US Navy aboard a destroyer for three years while based in New York City.

Dean started his civic career as a science teacher at Callanan Junior High School in Des Moines, Iowa. He found a career that closely followed his passions though, in occupational safety and health beginning at Employers Mutual Insurance Company of Des Moines and moving on to be the Associate Director of Iowa State University’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety. Dean went on to become the Safety Manager for Graco, Inc., an international pumps and fluid handling manufacturer in Minneapolis, MN, and finished his career as Director of Safety for Cretex, Inc., an industrial manufacturing company throughout the upper midwest and western plains states.

The couple raised their family in Des Moines, and later Ames, Iowa, having Kelley in 1973 and Brad four years later. Dean’s career took the family to Minnesota, but upon retirement in 2006 the call of home brought Dean and Margy back to Iowa, settling once again in Ames. In 2024, the couple moved to Eugene, Oregon to live close to Kelley and their grandson, Camilo.

Dean will be remembered as a devoted husband, a loving father and grandfather, a loyal friend, and a man who showed his generous love through steady presence, service to others and careful work. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friendships he nurtured, and the many beautiful things he built with his hands and his heart. Dean will be deeply missed by his wife Margy, his daughter Kelley, son Brad and his husband Dave, grandson Camilo, sister-in-law Carol, nephew Eric and niece Kirsten, and sisters Lucy and Lois, along with other family members and many dear friends.

A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at First United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 1:00PM, located at 1376 Olive St., Eugene, Oregon 97401. Additionally, a Celebration of Life will be held in Ames, Iowa during Summer 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Bridge Home (https://www.thebridgehome.org/how-to-help/) in Ames, Iowa, the Cascades Raptor Center in Eugene, Oregon (https://cascadesraptorcenter.org/donate/), or your local food bank.