Dean Duane Swindler

Dean Duane Swindler, 86, passed away peacefully with family by his side on March 22, 2023 Mesa, AZ. He was born to Wilmer and Alvina (Overgaard) Swindler on September 11, 1936 in Mott, North Dakota on the family homestead. He was an older brother to Jerry and JoAnn. The family lived in Idaho, Oregon and Washington before settling in Newcastle, Wyoming. It is there that he met the love of his life, Merline Thompson. They married on April 6, 1955 and were together 68 years until his passing. He attended the University of Wyoming where he played football before joining the Army and serving in Korea. They adopted Michael Dean in 1967 and Tina Jo in 1970. His passions were reading, fishing, hunting, traveling, camping, photography, and woodworking. He had a deep interest in learning about WWll.

Dean is preceded in death by his brother (Jerry Lee), parents (Wilmer and Alvina), and infant son (Paul), niece Kristin, and numerous aunts and uncles. Dean is survived by his wife Merline, daughter Tina Edenfield (Bret) of Gilbert, AZ, son Mike (Deb) of Denton, TX and sister JoAnn Austin of Spokane, WA. He had 7 loving grandchildren; Shamber Swindler (Drew Myers), Jacob Swindler, Meghan Myers (Michael), Emily Edenfield, Cameron Edenfield, Lexi Swindler and Rachel LaCroix, and 1 great-grandson, Logan Myers. He had 1 nephew Doug Misner (Beth) and 3 nieces; Tonya Carty (Sean), Angela Altum (Tom), and Brenda Keener (Terry). He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.