William Dean Heinitz, 78, of Valley Center, Kansas, passed away March 1, 2024, at home surrounded by his family thanks to Good Shepherd Hospice. Dean was born February 19, 1946, to Paul and Martha (Salyer) Heinitz in Garden City, Kansas. He joined the United States Marine Corps in May 1964 immediately after graduating from high school. He served in Vietnam as an airplane mechanic.
Upon returning to the United States and Kansas, he met and married Wanda Lee Dickerson, immediately gaining four stepkids (David, Jimetta, Mary, and Patrick). They had two more children together, Bryon Todd and Lora Anne. Wanda (2017), Bryon (1984), Jimetta (2019), and his brother Rex (2010) preceded Dean in death.
Dean had several jobs including wedding photographer, prison guard, and lineman and trainer with KG&E (now Evergy). He also volunteered with several community organizations, but his most notable role was that of karate student and instructor which he started in 1978 in Joplin, Missouri.
Dean is survived by his daughter, Lora (Mark) Jarvis, their children (Jaxson, Carson, Edison, and Ellison) and his four granddaughters Jennifer (Jeremy) Tucker (son Braxton), Tiffany (Josh) Cook (children Rhiley and Dominyck), Jamie (Steve) Barnes and Kerri Holding (children Makenna and Noah) as well as many other family and friends.
Family visitation will be Thursday, March 7th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Devorss Flanagan-Hunt Funeral Home at 201 S. Hydraulic Ave., in Wichita, KS 67211. Graveside services will be Friday, March 8th at 1:00 pm at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pretty Prairie located at 3916 Shelton Rd., Pretty Prairie, KS 67570. The family will also host visitors after the graveside services at LeVenue, 109 W. Main St in Valley Center, from 3:00-7:00 pm on Friday.
Memorial donations can be made to Ronald McDonald House and Camp Hope. They can be brought to the funeral home or mailed to his daughter Lora after the services.
