Obituary of Dean Wiley
Dean was born August 25, 1951, the third child to Bert and Deloise (nee Everett) Wiley. Dean attended Perley School in his early years. He often talked about going from a one room school, then grade 9 in Saltcoats, before heading to Yorkton Regional where he completed his high school years. Dean was very mischievous; he liked to play pranks from a very early age. He also enjoyed many gatherings with all the cousins from near and far. He was always up for an adventure and enjoyed many good times with family.
Dean was not a stranger to adversity. At the age of 5 he was diagnosed with a hearing loss. His eyesight also deteriorated at a very young age, and he started to wear glasses. Eventually he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. None of these difficulties prevented Dean from being a perfectionist or spoiled his zest for life. Dean always worked hard but he knew how to enjoy himself and make work fun for many of the people he employed. Dean was a gentle, patient man as well as a natural teacher.
After high school, Dean decided to head to Sparwood, BC to work in a coal mine. He very vividly remembered his time there. He loved to tell stories of the BIG yellow truck which Marshall later took his family to see on their vacation. He was so happy to see the picture of the grandkids in the wheel well.
In the late 70’s, Dean followed his dream of becoming a carpenter and attended SIAST in Saskatoon to complete the carpentry program and acquire his Inter-Provincial Journeyman Certificate. Upon completion he started DEW Construction. During the several years that Dean had the company he built many projects from small to large; model trains and farm equipment, a toy kitchen set, a cradle and crib for his babies, furniture, did renovations and built several houses. During his years of running his own construction company Dean often employed family members. In their time working with Dean, they were sure to learn many skills while having fun doing it.
Dean started dating Merle Michael in July 1980 and they were married August 6, 1983, in Saltcoats United Church. This was the start of Merle and Dean’s 42-year adventure which began with an Alaskan Cruise for their honeymoon.
Tamara Lynn was born November 3, 1984, and Marshall Edward was born October 26, 1986,
completing their family. The Wiley’s loved spending time together, especially camping trips, starting with a tent working their way up to a 5th wheel camper. One of the bigger camping trips was a tenting trip out to Banff and Lake Louise. It held such a special place in Tamara’s heart that in 2018 she took her family along with Dean and Merle out to see Lake Louise again.
Dean always enjoyed making a campfire, which he passed along to his children. Dean was always tinkering and adjusting things in the camper. As the years went on and the grandchildren came along Dean loved to share his passion for camping and nature with them.
Dean loved to be outdoors. He was always up for a walk, bike ride, canoe trip, fishing expedition or just exploring the ground while finding a new rock to take home to add to his collection; and what a collection that was!
Dean always had a soft spot for cats. It never seemed to matter if it was a feral farm cat or a house cat, he loved them all. “Kitten” had a very long spoiled life living with Dean.
Dean was the kind of grandpa that was very involved in everything that the kids did; doing gymnastics with them in the living rooms, building sail boats and sailing them on the lake, collecting rocks, and attending various school functions, concerts, or sporting events.
One of Dean’s biggest passions was kids. Whether they were his kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, or great nieces and nephews. Dean always had time to play a game, listen to a story or have a visit.
Dean was working full time when he decided to start selling REMCO monuments, which then led to installing them during his spare time, with Merle’s help. To make installing them easier, Dean devised a winch that helped with moving the monuments more efficiently.
Merle and Dean joined the Dementia Friendly Life Enrichment Program in July of 2021. The program enriched Dean’s days through outings with his facilitator including canoeing, nature walks, trips to Regina, baking, and group outings with Merle. Dean and Merle also participated in Cognitive Kitchen and “Belong Where You Find Yourself.” Alzheimer’s didn’t rob Dean’s love of visiting with new people, taking new adventures, or learning new skills such as painting. Dean always said, “I am going to make the best of it.”
Merle and Dean were a team their entire marriage and while she was his care partner he never stopped worrying about her and was willing to share his last beloved chocolate chip cookie.
On May 16, 2025, Dean passed away peacefully while holding Merle’s hand. Dean will always be remembered for his caring, thoughtful character, hard work ethic, sense of humor and love for family.
Dean is predeceased by his parents Deloise and Bert Wiley, brother Gary Wiley, mother-in-law and father-in-law Betty and Don Michael, and brother-in-law Ron Michael.
Dean will be fondly remembered by his wife Merle, daughter Tamara and Kevin Bajus and their children Kyra and Tanner, son Marshall and Kristen Wiley and their children Brooklyn, Taelyn, and Luke; brothers Garvin and Karen Wiley, Don Wiley, and sister Maureen and Larry Morgan; sister-in-law Joan Michael and Arlan Maddaford and sister-in-law Joanne Michael; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and cousins.
Dean will never truly be gone because he will never be forgotten.
