L. Dean Morton, age 80 of LaCrosse passed away peacefully on September 17 th at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. He was born on April 9, 1938 to Wendell and Evlyn Morton. He was married to his beloved wife Kay for 58 years.
Dean grew up in Emporia, KS and completed his bachelor’s Degree at Emporia State University. After a couple of years of teaching high school in Concordia, KS, he accepted a teaching job at the then named Coleman Technical College (now Western Technical College). While teaching, he completed his master’s in business at the University of Minnesota. He started the basketball program at the school, was the first Head Coach, the first Athletic Director and later chaired the Department of Business at the school.
After 18 years in education, Dean transitioned into the business world as the General Manager of Group W Cable (now Spectrum Cable) for LaCrosse and Winona. During his 18 years in cable, he additionally held various leadership positions for the State of Wisconsin Cable Association including 5 years as association President. Following his cable TV career, Dean became the 12 th employee of the then LaCrosse start-up Logistics Health. He worked in various consulting capacities and was proud of his contribution to this now thriving company.
Dean was also very active in the community with the Children’s Miracle Network, he served on the Oktoberfest board and was an active, long-time member of the First Congregational Church of LaCrosse.
Dean was an avid golfer who made life-long friends both in LaCrosse as well as their winter home in Apopka, FL. Dad played countless rounds of golf and while he never had a hole-in-one, we are confident he will finally achieve that elusive goal in heaven. In recent years, Dean was a passionate advocate for organ donation after having received a kidney transplant in 2013. He and his family are forever grateful for that gift of life and the incredible medical team at the UW Health System in Madison. He was also an avid fan of the Packers, Badgers, Brewers and Bucks and was thoroughly enjoying the current Brewers season as they fight for a post-season berth.
While Dean had many personal and professional successes, he was most proud of his role as ‘Grandpa Dean’ to Kayte, Sydney and Gracie. They were truly the apples of his eye and there was nothing he loved more than spending time with ‘his girls’.

Dean is survived by his wife Kay, two children Lori Morton-Lockley of LaCrosse and Jeffrey Morton of Charlotte, NC; three granddaughters Sydney Lockley of LaCrosse and Kayte & Grace Morton of Charlotte, NC; a brother Judge Robert Morton (Pat) of Emporia, KS and a sister Deanna Bradley of Lawrence, KS as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Evlyn, and his younger brother Ronnie.

The family would like to thank the incredible medical professionals at Gundersen Health in LaCrosse, The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, Florida Hospital in Altamonte Springs, FL and UW Health System Hospital in Madison. Dean received amazing medical care from all of them. Dean was also very proud of his Muscogee Indian heritage and was so appreciative of the medical support received from the Ho-Chunk Nation. He also received loving support and companionship from his Westie Maxwell. We would like to specifically recognize Dr. Brooks Rademacher and Dr. Chay Collura of Madison for the incredible compassion and care they demonstrated for Dean in the closing weeks of his life. We are forever grateful to all the caregivers who supported Dean’s health and medical journey these past 16 years.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 P.M. on Friday, September 21st at First Congregational Church of LaCrosse.  Funeral Services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 22 nd also at First Congregational Church of LaCrosse.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that any gifts or memorials be sent to Donate Life Wisconsin or First Congregational Church of LaCrosse.