Dean Melvin Schnaible, age 88, of Adrian, died Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, Minnesota.
He was born May 21, 1935, in Java, South Dakota, to Otto and Alice (Overseth) Schnaible.
After high school graduation, he married Maralyn A. Merkel on Sept. 21, 1957. After achieving his degree in elementary education at Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Dean began his teaching career at Irving Country School, 11 miles from Java, South Dakota. He then taught and coached in Hills-Beaver Creek, Minnesota, from 1963 to 1972. After leaving Hills, he traveled to Hartington, Nebraska, where he started his career as a head basketball coach. Dean taught and coached in Nebraska for one year, before moving to Adrian, Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his coaching and teaching career. He taught for a total of 41 years with 24 years teaching fifth grade in Adrian, before retiring in 1998.
In addition to teaching, Dean spent over 54 years coaching sports, including boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, baseball, softball and football. In 2014 he was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
In addition to coaching sports, Dean enjoyed fishing, yardwork, friends, children, grandchildren and a good highball and stogie.
Surviving family includes three children, Kim Schnaible of Littleton, Colorado, Tammy (friend, Rick) Schnaible of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Blaine (Deb) Schnaible of Marshall, Minnesota; grandchildren Aaron Torrez, Littleton, Colorado, Jada (Aaron Swartz) Wolf of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Shanna (Jeff) Davis of Lucas, Texas, Bryanna (Ben) Geary of Marshall, Minnesota, Mason Schnaible and Mia Schnaible of Marshall, Minnesota; great-grandchildren Brek, Cade and Collins Davis; siblings Bev (Gary) Buck of Bismarck, North Dakota, Peggy (Doug) Erhart of Mandan, North Dakota, Barb (Tom) Goehring of Lake Mina, South Dakota, and Ruthanne Schnaible of Las Vegas, Nevada.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maralyn; father, parents Otto and Alice Schnaible; and his stepmother, Elizabeth Schnaible.
A time of fellowship will be from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Adrian. A private family committal service will take place at a later date.