Earl Dean Wise passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2024, at the age of 91 in Kingston, Oklahoma. Dean was born on August 15th, 1932, in Independence, Kansas to Cora Anna (Weisner) Wise and Earl M. Wise. He was raised in Chautauqua County, KS. He attended schools at Fowler and Sedan, and he graduated from Peru High School in 1950. In 1951, he also graduated from the Television-Radio Institute in Omaha, Nebraska. On January 2, 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for 4 years during the Korean War. He spent 6 weeks at Camp Gordon Georgia where he obtained Air Police Training. After this he was sent to Bentwaters Air Force Base in England where he spent 3 years. His last 6 months of enlistment were spent at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. Following this he was honorably discharged in December of 1955. He then attended and graduated from Coffeeville Junior College in Coffeeville, KS. He met Loessa Herriman here and the two of them were married on June 22, 1958. Throughout their marriage, they lived in Wichita, Kansas, Denver Colorado, Orange County California, Arlington Texas, and Broken Arrow Oklahoma. Dean retired from the Ciba-Geigy Corp in 1985 and they moved to Enos, Oklahoma. That year, he joined the Enos-Cardinal Cove Volunteer Fire Department where he was trained in emergency medical response, search and rescue, fire suppression, weather tracking, and countless other areas, and he faithfully served with them for 39 years.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents Earl M. Wise and Cora Anna Wise, his wife of 52 years, Loessa Herriman Wise, his daughter Brenda Neher, his granddaughter Candice Neher, his sister Doris Vossen and brother-in-law Don Vossen, his sister Marjorie Whitekeller, and brother-in-law William "Sonny" Whitekeller.

Dean is survived by his companion and caretaker, Paula Butterfield, his grandsons Clinton Neher and Charles Neher, three great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Dean enjoyed working for the Fire Department because he loved meeting new people and a wonderful thing about Dean is that once you met him, you had another friend. He always said that while he was working, he never had time to help the community he was living in. Retirement gave him this time and he certainly gave it his best.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Enos/Cardinal Cove Fire Department.

Honorary Bearers:  Joshua Gillette, Cris Wooden, Clint Neher, Charles Neher, PJ Caldwell, Dallas Arnold and Mike Cook