Dean Van Emmerik Obituary

To view Dean's service, please click on the link below: https://www.facebook.com/112854343696503/live_videos/ Dean Van Emmerik, 49, of Tea passed away unexpectedly on August 7, 2025 at his home with his wife, Jodi, by his side. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am on Tuesday, August 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tea. Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 pm on Monday, with a 7 pm prayer service, also at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Dean was born September 14, 1975 in Madison, SD to Robert and Mary (Hemmer) Van Emmerik. He grew up in the Salem area and graduated as Salutatorian from McCook Central High School in 1994. In high school, Dean participated in FFA, played football and DJ'd many dances. He then attended Southeastern Tech, where he advanced to the National SkillsUSA competition in automotive and later earned his associate's degree in automotive technology. Dean was united in marriage to Jodi Leth on April 21, 2001 at Center Lutheran Church, rural Salem. They had two sons, Taylor and Gavin, who were Dean's pride and joy and biggest accomplishments in life. He opened his shop, Dean's Place in Parker in May of 2014 and eventually moved it to Crooks in 2019. The shop was a means to an end-all of his hard work, time and accomplishments were for one thing-his family. Dean was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Tea. He loved deer and pheasant hunting, camping with his boys, and riding side by sides-often having contests to see who could get the muddiest! Dean is survived by: his wife, Jodi; sons, Taylor and Gavin, of Tea; parents, Bob and Mary Van Emmerik of Salem; sister Melanie DeBates of Sioux Falls; brother, Kyle (April) Van Emmerik of Sioux Falls, mother-in-law, Marilyn Leth of Grand Island, NE; brother-in-law, Josh (Holly) Leth of Hastings, NE; nieces and nephews, Trent DeBates, Jordyn, Bodhi and Jaxon Van Emmerik, and Morgan, Skylar, Charlee, Porter, and Dylan Leth; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gene and Helen Van Emmerik, Leroy and Bonnie Hemmer, and Thelma Walwin-Hemmer, father-in-law, Mel Leth, and grandmother-in-law, Helen Jacobson. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church or the Arthritis Foundation.