MCLEANSBORO – Dean Allen French, age 85 and a resident of McLeansboro, IL, passed away at 2:30 a.m., Friday, December 22, 2023, at his residence in McLeansboro.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro.

A funeral service will be held at noon at Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro.

Pastor Jacob Gray will officiate the service and Burial will be in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in McLeansboro.

Dean was born January 27, 1938, in McLeansboro, IL, to Paul French and Hallie Mae (Allen) French. He married Cathleen Stevens June 5, 1959, in Lebanon, VA. Dean graduated from McLeansboro Township High School. He worked as an iron worker for Local 103 Evansville, IN. Dean was Baptist by faith. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and fishing.

Survivors include his wife Cathleen of McLeansboro; two sons Rick French and wife Tara of Midland, Texas, and James French and wife Vicky of Stomping Ground, KY; three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren (plus one great-grandson on the way in February of 2024), seven great-great grandchildren, brothers Joe French and wife Pat of Washington, MO, and Paul Keith French and wife Donna of Springfield, MO.

Preceding Dean in death were his parents.

The Harre Funeral Home in McLeansboro is in charge of arrangements.