Obituary of Dean Poyzer

A funeral service for Dean Lee Poyzer, 90, of Estherville, Iowa, and formerly of Spirit Lake, will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, June 14, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at Eastside Memorial Cemetery in Estherville. Visitation will begin at 5 pm, Wednesday, June 13, 2018, with the family present fro 5-7 pm, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Dean Lee Poyzer was born on April 12, 1928 on a farm N.E. of Spirit Lake, Iowa to Archie and Mabel (Varner) Poyzer. Dean attended Estherville school graduating in 1946 and was drafted into the military. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Anne Book from November 1948 thru 1982. They made their living farming. Dean also worked at John Morrell Packing Plant and drove Estherville school bus for over 30 years. He and Shirley adopted 5 kids and opened their doors to care for 34 foster children. Dean married Vivian Gillespie in 1984. Upon retirement, Dean continued to farm but in the form of flowers. He quickly acquired the nickname "Orchid Doctor" within the community. Dean enjoyed making pies and cookies, preserving vegetables from his garden, square dancing and being a "Snow bird" in Texas in the winter. He was active in building the new First Presbyterian Church of Spirit Lake and continued to volunteer there once completed. Dean lived on a farm near Wallingford, then bought a farm just outside of Estherville and later a lake home on "Little Spirit". Dean left us to join the angels on Friday, June 8, 2018. Survivors include 3 sons Greg and Deborah Poyzer and their son Christian, Alan and Connie Poyzer and Alan's sons Timothy and Todd, and Ernie Poyzer and his daughter Julie, son Joseph and step daughter Denise, one daughter Rosie Anderson and Craig Papenfuhs (friend), her sons Kenny and his child and James, 2 step-sons Ken and Gina Dawson and their son Nicholas and wife and his child, and daughter Jessa, and Charles. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, and his wives Shirley and Vivian, daughter Doreen, his twin brother Don and daughter in-law Sandra.