Dean Patrick Armstrong

Dean Armstrong, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away unexpectedly on October 10th, surrounded by his loving sons and close family at the age of 77. Born on May 29, 1948, in Davenport, Iowa, Dean lived in many places early on in life including Bettendorf, Iowa; Rock Island, Illinois; Battle Creek, Michigan and Lansing, Michigan before settling down in Haslett, Michigan.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Terence Joseph Armstrong and Vernetta Armstrong (Bombei) of Haslett.

Dean attended St. Thomas Aquinas through middle school then attended Haslett High School where he graduated in 1966. He also attended Western Michigan University, earned an Associate’s Degree from Lansing Community College, and received many certificates for firefighting and arson investigation over the years.

While attending Haslett, he participated in football, wrestling, baseball and basketball. He was a member of the Varsity Club, co-captain of the football team where he lettered on Varsity for three years, and co-captain of the wrestling team where he helped the team earn a Regional Championship in 1965. He was an honor roll student and earned all-league, all-district and all-state honors in both football and wrestling. He briefly held the school record for fastest pin of an opponent in wrestling.

After high school, Dean proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966-1969. He was a member of Company “E” 1st Battalion 2nd Infantry Platoon 1068 where he trained in Camp Pendleton, California; later stationed in San Diego. While most of his platoon went overseas to Vietnam, Dean scored high in testing and spent most of his time in intelligence and communications, working with the US Navy and Marines based in Pensacola, Florida. While in the Marines, he also played recreational football with the National Senior Games Association (N.S.G.A) and played recreational baseball for the Marines. His last assignment and command was the Marine Support Battalion where he was honorably discharged as Corporal, E4.

Dean began his career as a firefighter for the Meridian Township Fire Department in 1970, holding several positions including Firefighter, Paramedic/EMT and Fire Marshall. During his firefighting career, he was a member of the International Association of Firefighters and International Association of Arson Investigators.

Dean remained close to many of his 1966 classmates from Haslett High School and formed lifelong friendships with his fellow firefighters at the Meridian Township Fire Department. He and his lifetime best friend, Bob Linn, joined the department a month apart and spent countless hours together protecting the community, each serving the fire department for nearly 30 years.

Dean loved golfing with his friends at Pine Lake Golf Course in the “Pot of Gold” and enjoyed many golf outings and golf leagues over the years. He also enjoyed hunting and going back to his birthplace in Iowa where he spent time on the farm with his cousins and three brothers hunting pheasants and whitetail deer. He also had fond memories of “deer camp” in Glennie, Michigan where he would visit with “Bobo” and “Hop” Richards along with other high school friends over the years. He took both of his sons on their first hunting trips to Glennie and always liked chewing on beef jerky and “shooting the bull” with his hunting buddies and sons.

Dean also enjoyed reading and had a steel trap memory astonishing his family during Jeopardy where he would know the most random things and answer nearly every question correctly. He was an exceptional blackjack and poker player with uncanny luck at the card tables. He hosted countless poker parties at his house the day after Thanksgiving and it was always a highlight of the year hanging out with friends playing poker until the early hours.

Dean was an avid sports fan with a passion for Michigan State University and the Detroit Lions. More than anything, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports over the years at Haslett High School. His favorite sport was football and there was nothing he would rather do than watch his grandsons Luke and Caulton play high school football for his alma mater. Dean enjoyed spending time with family whenever he could and loved watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up.

Dean was the second oldest son in a family of four boys. Terry is the eldest, followed by Dean, Jim and Steve. The Armstrong boys had a reputation of being tough (and sometimes rowdy) but extremely loyal to each other, their families and loved ones. They were a staple in the Haslett area and enjoyed raising their families and seeing the third and fourth generation of Armstrong’s grow up in the Haslett area.

Dean is survived by his sons, Jason (Breanna) Armstrong (Haslett) and Joe (Lisa) Armstrong (East Lansing); brothers, Terry (Dale) Armstrong (Haslett), James (Joan) Armstrong (Haslett) and Steve (Patti) Armstrong (Haslett); granddaughter, Madison (Nathan) Vermillion; grandsons, Luke Armstrong and Caulton Armstrong, and great-grandchildren, Ben and Amelia Vermillion.

Dean loved happiness and connection, and his wish was for his life to be celebrated with laughter, stories, and good company. In honor of his wishes, his family warmly invites you to join them for a Celebration of Life gathering to remember, reflect and share in the happiness he brought so many at Brookshire Golf Club 205 West Church Street, Williamston MI 48895 on Thursday October 30th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Financial contributions in memory of Dean can be made to the American Legion Post 269 located at 1485 Haslett Road, Haslett MI 48840.