Dean Gust Manolis "Papou", age 83, of Huron, passed away Tuesday, September 25, 2018, surrounded by his loving family at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His life was celebrated at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 29th at the Riverview United Methodist Church, with military honors by the Huron Veterans Council.
Dean Gust Manolis was born at Huron, South Dakota, on June 22, 1935, to Gus G. Manolis and Lucille (Stackwick) Manolis. He was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church. Dean grew up in Huron and graduated from Huron High School in 1954. He served in the US Army, stationed in Japan from 1954 to 1956, then he was honorably discharged.
Dean married his high school sweetheart, Janice VanAllen "YaYa" on December 19, 1956. He joined his brother- in- law, Christ Marcus as a partner in Manolis Grocery while attending Huron College where he received a Bachelor's Degree in 1961. Dean taught classes at Northwest College of Commerce until the school closed in 1989. He retired from Manolis Grocery in 1990. He was elected to the Huron City Commission in 1990.
Dean served on the Beadle County Humane Society Board of Directors. He was a member of Riverview United Methodist Church, Elks, Kiwanis, American Legion, Order of Ahepa and Huron Housing. Dean and his partners, Todd Manolis and Gus Marcus received the Huron Area Excellence In Family Business Award presented to the Manolis Family for Exemplary Family Business and Community Leadership on March 15, 2011.
He was passionate about all of Huron, especially the downtown. He loved being surrounded by family and all his wonderful friends and loved to talk about the "good old days" in our community. Dean treated everyone like they were special. Everyone he met was his friend. Dean was extremely proud of his Greek heritage and loved everything Greek! Greek food, Greek stories and Greek dancing always made him smile.
Dean is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Janice Manolis of Huron; three children, Cindy and Red Wilk, Gus and Eunice Manolis, and Todd and Tricia Manolis, all of Huron; grandchildren, Josh and Katie Wilk, Jenny Wilk, Michael Manolis, Andrew Manolis. Eric Weerts, Erin and Joseph Stewart and Evan and Meghan Weerts; great-grandchildren, Rheya, Cora and Jameson Wilk, Emily, Emeri, Kinsley, Joseph and Elliot; and his nieces and nephews, Pete and Linda Marcus, Gus and Cheryle Marcus, Marina, Christina and Jim Pappas and their families.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Kay and Cleo; his grandparents; his mother-in-law, two brothers-in-law; and aunts and uncles.