Dean

Paul Dennis Jenkins Dean was the kind of person that left you feeling better about the world we live in than before you met up with him. You’d walk away with a big smile on your face and have a warm, cozy feeling inside that served to grow the optimism of life that permeates the character of the West Side community.

On Aug. 3, Dean passed away peacefully at the age of 72 in his Lahaina home with his family by his side. He leaves a legacy of love and Christian family values built in his dedication to the Church of Latter Day Saints in Lahaina and through his beloved wife, Grayce Dean; half sister, Kathy Rodgers; children, Jana (Nelson) Saribay, Jason (Kalea) Dean, Jeri Dean, Chuki (Sheila) Dean, Joshua (Danae) Dean and Jinny (Lee) Yap; 19 grandchildren; five step grandchildren; and one step great grandchild.

Paul Dean’s richness in life came as a result of the aloha he generated as a stalwart of the Mormon church and the emphasis put into Christian family values there. He spread his love of God to his wife and family, and further enriched the community as the scoutmaster of Boy Scouts of America Troop 79 of Lahaina.

He toiled as a heavy equipment operator for 41 years to provide for his family and helped represent his co-workers as a member of the Operating Engineers Local Union 3.

The sincerity and depth of his character is exemplified in the tribute on the back of his funeral service program. There, Dean wrote, “My tribute to my donor (Tim Susco) for a heart and double lung. His gifts blessed me with eight MORE precious years with my family. Thank you.”

In that program, he also wrote to his daughters, “Be kind to each other!” To his sons, “Take care of your wives and take care of Mom.”

To all, he wrote, “We will be together forever. I want to live with my wife, Jesus, and my ancestors. I love my family with all my heart, might, mind and strength.”

Thank you, Paul Dean, for setting the example of a noble life that all of us will be able to follow, for you are a manifestation of God’s love for us. May peace be with you and your family always. Aloha ‘oe.