Obituary
Harold “Dean” Uhls
Harold ‘Dean’ Uhls, 86, of La Crosse died March 10, 2019 from Alzheimers/Lewy Body.
We celebrated Dean’s 86th birthday on January 26th. He was born and raised in West Frankfort, Ill. Dean attended college in South Eastern Louisiana and graduated from Winona State University.
Dean served in the army for two years and was member of the Army Diving Exhibition Team.
He married Joan Lee Coover, in 1953 in Nebraska. Joan passed away in 1982 after a long battle with cancer. Dean married Diane Fox Blomquist in 1984.
Dean taught business subjects at Holmen High School and Income Tax Courses at WWTI (Western Tech College) from 1957 to 1967. While teaching his true passion was coaching basketball, track and golf. During these years he spent his summers as a professional golf instructor.
In 1968, Dean changed careers and began his own business selling life insurance and securities forming Financial Planning Services of Greater La Crosse.
Dean served six years on the Holmen School Board as treasurer and board president and was president of the Holmen Area Development Corporation. He was Wisconsin Man of the Year for Northwestern National Life Insurance Company for 6 yrs. and Southern Minnesota Man of the Year for 13 yrs.
Dean’s hobbies were ‘anything that involved a ball’—from pingpong to basketball—golf and tennis. He was awesome at all of them.
Dean was a devout Christian committed to Jesus Christ. He was involved as a church elder for many years and he led many bible studies. He loved people and was always available to help others in most any way he could.
Dean is survived by his wife Diane, his children Jody (Cliff) Warden, Onalaska and their children Briesanna (Jace) York, Taylor, and Samantha, Trudy (Dean) Volk, Charleston,S.C., their children Benjamin and Jesse, John (Teresa) Uhls, Greensboro, N.C., and their children Jonah and Carter, grandchildren Jonathan Uhls and Aubrey (Uhls) Evans, and four great grandchildren. He is survived also by his step children Chadburn (Diann) Blomquist, Minneapolis and their child, Sloane, and Darin (Kristina) Blomquist, Denver, CO and their children, Parker and Reese.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Joan, his son Robert and his parents, Tom and Mabel, and 8 brothers and sisters.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Child Evangelism Fellowship or Coulee Region Giving Hearts Choir (local Alzheimers Choir).
Services will be Friday, March 22, 2019 at 10:30 AM at First Free Church, 123 Mason Street, Onalaska. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until time of services at the church. Coulee Region Cremation Group, Onalaska has been entrusted with arrangements.
Dean hired me at Financial Planning Services of La Crosse when I was a fledgling Christian. Dean did not know this about me at that time (1985), nor did I know what a Godly man he was. In hindsight, I know beyond a doubt our Lord chose my career path to cross with Dean’s for nearly 8 years. What a blessing that was!
Dean taught me a “hot potato”procedure. Whenever receiving information that needed to be passed along, decide whom it needs to go to and pass it along as quickly as possible. That’s been a lifesaver piece of advice over the years. He also taught me to make my first task of the day the one I least wanted to do. When that task was finished, the rest of the day sails by. This is still true today! (Thanks, Dean!)
During our work relationship, Dean was my mentor, both as a new Christian as well as work-related, and was a role model representing integrity, wisdom, hospitality, and compassion. He was like a second father to me. When I purchased my first home alone, Dean came along with the realtor and me during my lunch hour to look at the home and determine if it was a good purchase for single gal…my own dad was 75 miles away. It proved to be a good purchase!
I only met and knew Dean while married to his lovely wife, Diane. I am forever grateful to you, too, Diane, for the love shown to me during the difficult time in my life when I was first hired at Financial Planning Services. You both were such an integral part of my life, taking me under your wings, and helping me grow in my faith. Your love, as well as Dean’s, is forever ingrained in my heart and mind. I love you. God bless you, sweetie! Please know yYou will remain in my prayers.
Love and hugs,
Jodi (& Charles) Cook