Willa Jean (Volk) Dean

Willa Jean (Volk) Dean passed away March 2, 2024 in Florida, She was a beautiful woman known for her kindness, generosity and love of God. Born on Saturday, October 6, 1936, she was the first daughter to William and Virginia (Pitt) Volk in Conneaut, OH.

Her mother wanted to name her Wilhelmina but was unsure how to spell it, so Willa it was, the apple to her daddy’s eye.

She was a graduate of Edgewood Senior High School, class of ’53. Willa had a keen business mind and started working in high school at Olsen’s Bakery. She worked for several attorneys and businesses, from running to owning them, including Baskin Robins in Ashtabula.

She loved the color pink and orchids and surrounded herself with them. When you walked into one of her homes, you were enveloped by her exquisite interior design.

She spent most of her life in Ashtabula County, and enjoyed being a snowbird, visiting Inverness, Hobe Sound, and Jenson Beach, before setting in Palm City, Florida.

She was married to Tom Dean, the love of her life for over 36 years. Her kids were really blessed to have her for a mom! Willa will be missed by everyone who knew her.

She is survived by her husband Tom; daughter Renee Rock (George Paul Nagle, Jr.), son Ron (Renee) Gruening, stepdaughter Jan (Tony) Myers, and her grandchildren Stephen Rock, Dan (Alicia) Gruening, Julie Carlo, Jana (Christopher) Shafer, and Tom (Jodi) Toddy. She was Great-Grandmama to Erik Gruening, and Peyton Carlo, beloved sister to Ruth (Chuck) Carlisle, Susan (Jim) Chaney, Joni (Les) Graeff, and Joyce Volk, as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and former husband Heinz Gruening, brothers Ralph, Neil and Frank Volk, stepdaughters Julie Cerney and Terri Dean, and grandson Tim Toddy.

Celebration of life will be incorporated with her brother Ralph who passed away October 2, at 2:00 PM, Sunday October 13, 2024 at the Marcy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 208 Liberty St., Conneaut, with visitation from 1:00 until the time of the service.

Light a candle or leave a memory at www.marcyfuneralhome.com.

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