Dean Sleeper
Born Feb. 13, 1927
Deceased Jan. 17, 2023

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Dean Sleeper passed away peacefully with his dog at his side, at his homestead, where his father and grandfather lived before him, and where he spent most of his 96 years.

Dean attended schools in Upper Lake, California, then joined the Merchant Marines during World War II when he was a senior.

He traveled around the Pacific on multiple fuel ships, then upon his discharge, he returned to Upper Lake to graduate high school.

He married his high school sweetheart, Pasty Peck, and they settled in Upper Lake to raise a family and support his parents on their family ranch on Middle Creek Road.

Dean was active in the community in his younger years with the volunteer fire department, as well as being on the board. He was also a successful walnut producer and operated his own walnut dehydrator, which was a full family operation.

Besides being a farmer, Dean loved truck driving and worked driving a milk truck for 16 years, then construction trucks, up to his retirement around 1982.

He was also an avid stock car race fan, and was seen often by the locals at the race tracks.

After his retirement, he and Patsy enjoyed traveling to visit kids and grandchildren, as well as their excursions in their motorhome, until poor health curtailed their trips.

Dean is predeceased by his spouse of 50-plus years, Patsy, and leaves behind his four children, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren, and his dog Gracie.

He was proud to have four generations there with him during his last trip to the races. He will be missed by all.

His wishes were to have no services, which we will abide by. He said he had “outlived his pallbearers” and most of his friends, so he was just the last one to leave.