Dean H. Vermillion

April 13, 1946 - March 18, 2018

SOUTH BEND - Dean H. Vermillion passed away on Sunday, March 18, 2018. He was proud to have survived cancer for 16 months. He was born 4/13/46 in Mishawaka, Indiana and attended John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana. He was a member of the River Park United Methodist Church and enjoyed his participation in scouting activities. He attended Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana where he studied music. He was proud to serve our country with the United States Air Force, stationed in Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado. He was in the 529 Air Force Band and the 3415 AB group.

He was a musician and entertainer throughout his career and focused on making others smile and helped them to forget their problems and enjoy their day. He was a trumpet player, a great ballad singer, and a comedian. He spent years in Reading, Pennsylvania with the Bobbie Mercer Road Show, and in Daytona Beach, Florida with the Jokers Four and The Rhodes Brothers.

Dean was married to his adoring wife and partner Joan Marie (Stehman) since 1981 and they resided in Orlando, FL. He was proud of his Daughter Halle Gann (husband Dan and mother Paula) who owns the Whispering Pines Kennel in Niles, Michigan and her family. He has a brother Dale (and wife Jean) Vermillion of Eugene, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Loretta (Lambert) Vermillion, two sisters Phyllis Laughman Robert (Bud) and Delores Hodges (Lane). Their children and grandchildren were an important part of his family life. He was close to his in-laws, ElizaBeth Seeber (Mark) of Villas, New Jersey and John Stehman from the Philadelphia suburbs and was very fond of their families and friends.

Dean was a Brother Mason at the Scottish Rite Bodies Valley of Reading, Pennsylvania, and he was conferred at Washington, D.C. in November, 1994.

In summary, Dean enjoyed his life and thanked God for every additional day that he had on this earth. He loved entertaining others with music and he loved his family and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held in the South Bend, Indiana area, with a date to be determined in the future. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider an Act of Kindness to a stranger in Dean Vermillion's name. He would like that you were helping others!

03/25/2018 JFC