Dean Barrett

Wilber Dean Barrett, one of three children of Delbert W. and Lola (Abbott) Barrett, was born November 16, 1941 in Nebraska City, Nebraska. He attended school in Nebraska City and graduated from high school there in 1960.

While attending UNL, Dean found that he would not have funds to continue. His closest friend, Larry Bodle, and he decided to volunteer for the draft instead of waiting to be drafted; maybe they could be together in the Army. When they went to volunteer, the Draft Office was locked and would not be open for a couple of hours, so they went to see Mr. Neidle at NCHS since it was next door. Neither of them realized that he was the Commander of the National Guard Unit in Nebraska City. They decided to enlist in the guard and that decision would become his career path.

After completing his training in 1961, he went to work for Safeway. In February 1965 the Guard offered him a full-time position with shorter hours and better benefits and pay. He worked as an Administrative Supply Technician and Unit Administrator in Auburn and Lincoln. He attained the rank of First Sergeant and in 1983 he accepted the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) position in Lincoln as the Selected Reserve Incentive Program Manager. He held that position until he retired in 2001 just 9 short weeks short of 41 years of service. In July 1992 he began working part time at a Texaco convenience store and soon became the Assistant Manager.

He married Marcia K. Weddle in June 1962. They have 3 sons: Curt, Scott, and Tony. They were divorced in September 1974. He then married Jeanne M. Secord in March 1975. They have 1 daughter, Brandy. Jeanne died in February 1982 of cancer.

After 13 years of being engaged, Dean married Linda L. Simmons Lockwood at Magic Island, Honolulu in September 2000. Dean and Linda have 4 sons, 3 daughters, 10 grandsons, 11 granddaughters, and 1 great-granddaughter. They have 3 Yorkshire puppies that are their kids now that all of their children are on their own.

Dean and Linda loved to travel and have taken many trips through the southern states. They have also gone to Cancun, Mexico (twice), toured Ireland, and taken 11 trips to Hawaii. In September 2010, Dean and Linda traveled back to Magic Island to celebrate their anniversary.

On Saturday, March 5, 2011, Dean was rushed to Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln where he passed away, having reached the age of 69 years 3 months and 17 days. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, and second wife, Jeanne.

Survivors include his wife Linda of Lincoln; children and their spouses Curt Barrett of Otoe, Scott Barrett of Omaha, Tony and wife Karen Barrett of Nebraska City, Brandy and Joe Zordan of Lincoln, Shawn Lockwood of Lincoln, Michele Oldfield of Nebraska City, Tracy and Eddie Thomas of Grand Island; 10 grandsons; 11 granddaughters; 1 great-granddaughter; sisters and brothers-in-law Judy and Gene Nelson of Beverly Hills, FL, Joyce and Jim Petersen of Fremont; mother-in-law Helen Lyden of Lincoln; brothers-in-law Todd Simmons of Lincoln, Kevin Simmons of Red Oak, IA; other relatives and many friends.