Post Messenger Recorder -

Dean R. Baumgartner, age 65 of Monroe, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2017, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison after a 20 plus year struggle with Transverse Myelitis. He was born on December 14, 1951, to his parents, Herman and Rita (Ruetten) Baumgartner in Monroe.

Dean grew up on his family's farm in the Town of Exeter and graduated from New Glarus High School. Dean loved farming; his passion was for operating the tractors and machinery rather than the dairy cows. He later went on to work at Laidlaw in Monticello. On July 19, 1980, he was united in marriage to Joan Mueller at St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Belleville, now St. Francis of Assisi, where he is a member. Dean persevered through the many challenges and struggles in his life: the passing of his wife, a disease that paralyzed him, and the loss of his father, brothers, and mother. As a longtime resident of Pleasant View, Dean taught himself to use technology to stay in contact with others and keep up with his hobbies and passions.

Dean is survived by a niece, Jill Ann Baumgartner, and her mother, Phyllis; sister-in-law, Mary Shaw; aunts; uncles; and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joan; and brothers, John and Phillip.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m., on Monday, November 20, 2017, at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 338 S. Harrison Street, Belleville, WI, with the Rev. Michael Moon officiating. Burial is in the Belleville Cemetery.

A visitation preceded the mass from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Belleville.

The Becker-Beal Funeral Home of Belleville is assisting the family.

Memorials are suggested to the Friends of Pleasant View Foundation.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.