Obituary of Dean Orem

Dean Haver Orem, Jr. passed away at Anchor Rehabilitation and Health Care Center on August 20, 2023 after a gallant 23 year battle against Parkinson’s Disease. Dean was graduated from Cassville, MO high school in the class of 1968. He gained his love for the game of golf while attending Missouri University as a member of MU’s golf team from ’68-’72. Dean lived most of his life in Joplin, MO, where he worked as a Production Manager at Pet, Inc., HR Manager at Schreiber Foods, and VP of HR at EFCO. When not working, Dean loved to play in area golf tournaments. As a Par 3 handicapper, Dean was an exceptionally competitive player, especially in the Horton Smith tournaments between Joplin and Springfield, where he was a Champion and top 10 in every tournament.  Dean was a great friend and golf competitor throughout his life. He was a member, Board member, and Rules Official for the Missouri Golf Association for over 50 years. Dean’s most memorable round was shooting par at Saint Andrews in Scotland. 

A season ticket holder, Dean was an avid Kansas City Chief’s fan who rarely missed a game. Dean’s other passions included Corvettes, good clothes, good food, good books, good art and good bourbon. He was often seen wearing a Tommy Bahama shirt sharing a special bourbon with friends. A friend from New Orleans gifted him bottle of Colonel E.H. Taylor | Warehouse C Tornado Survivor bourbon for sharing an unopened bottle of Pappy Van Winkel with him after the 2011 Joplin tornado. In 2015 Dean and his wife, Lisa, retired to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where they enjoyed playing golf and being a part of the ex-pat community. In 2021 they moved to Aiken, SC to be closer to expert medical care.

Dean was born in Joplin, MO on January 15, 1950, to the late Dean Haver Orem, Sr. and Lillian Benjamin Orem. Dean is survived by his spouse, Lisa Orem of Aiken, S.C., daughter Chancy Orem of Nixa, MO, stepson Aaron Riley of Moore, OK, stepdaughter Beth Freeman of Moore, OK, and four grandchildren of Moore, OK.

A celebration of Dean’s life will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 2-4 pm at the Elk’s Lodge #501, 1802 W. 26^th St., Joplin, MO. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dean’s name to the Parkinson’s Foundation www.parkinson.org. (Select DONATE, then TRIBUTE gift).

The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com