Dean M. Neubauer

Dean M. Neubauer of Menomonie, WI passed away peacefully at home with his wife and family by his side on November 29, 2025, at the age of 84.

He was born January 20, 1941, in Menomonie, WI to Harold and Edna (Hammer) Neubauer. He grew up on the family farm near Irvington with his siblings Donna, Dick, Carol, and Ronnie. Dean went to grade school at Blodgett Country School. He graduated from Menomonie High School in 1959. Dean attended Sunday School and was confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie, WI.

Dean married Joyce Larson after high school. To that union came four children: Mike, Jeanne, Kurt, and Charles. They later divorced. Dean met the love of his life, Penny, and they were married on April 30, 2006. Dean always told Penny, “I wish I would have met you sooner, so I could have loved you longer.” Dean accepted Penny’s stepchildren as his own, though most of those relationships have sadly dissolved for both Dean and Penny.

Dean farmed early in life, and he went on to be an iron worker. He also worked building pole buildings for a time and ended his career as a supervisor for a food drying plant.

Dean had a love for horses, growing up with and farming with them. He cleared his land with his horses to move in his mobile home. He skidded logs for many years with horses, and for fun and competition he pulled horses both ponies and draft horses. He pulled in all three clubs: Ponies, Barefoot Draft, and Shod Draft, since 1962 and throughout his life until his health started to decline these past several years.

He had many favorite ponies and horses, but his most favorite were his ponies Tom and Doll. Dean won many contests with them and later sold the pair to John Vold, who went on to win many more contests with them. Dean also did some hunting in his early years—he loved his coonhounds and hunted coons for many years. Dean also belonged to the saddle club and rode many saddle horses in his earlier years.

Dean is survived by his wife, Penny of Menomonie; his daughter Jeanne Lehman; and his son Kurt. He is also survived by his siblings Donna Teitz of Menomonie, Dick (Sue) Neubauer of Menomonie, and Carol Dougherty of Black River Falls; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends; and his dachshund Sally.

He is preceded in death by his parents Harold and Edna; his grandparents August and Mable Neubauer and Oscar and Ella Hammer; two sons, Mike and Charles; brother Ronnie; brothers-in-law Ronald Teitz, Jim Dougherty, and Wayne King; sisters-in-law Debbie King and Dinah Harshman; and his beloved dachshund Shadow, who will be laid to rest with him.

The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice and family and friends for all the support though this time. I would personally like to thank Dr. Steven Neubauer for always being there for every question and concern I had during Dean’s Journey and really guiding me to the end, as well as my niece Linda for staying with me the last week and Greg for all you do for me always.

Dean will be remembered for his humor and witty comments—right to the end. One of his favorites was, “Now let me tell you something.”

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday December 5, 2025 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie, WI with Pastor Thomas Carlson officiating. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service starting at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Wilson Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Cady, St. Croix County, WI.

To share a memory, please visit the obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com