Dean was born on November 24, 1962 and raised in Highland, Maryland. From an early age, he embraced hard work, loved farm life, and showed his remarkable talent for entrepreneurship. Since he was 22 years old, he had been inseparable from his wife and best friend, Lee Anne. With their cherished daughter Deanna, they built a life and home that was always open to family and lifelong friends with Christ-like love, unwavering hospitality, and simple fun.
After graduating from his beloved Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration, Dean became an enthusiastic member of the NC State family, where he earned his master’s in Sports Management. Dean spent more than 25 years building lasting friendships all over the world and leading by example as a manager in licensing and marketing at John Deere. After his retirement last year, Dean was thrilled to have the opportunity to continue mentoring and encouraging young people by joining the faculty of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at NC State.
Waiting for him in heaven were his parents, Andrew and Billie Mae Hamke, and his father-and-mother- in-law, Clyde and Mary Maybee, who always loved him as their own.
He is survived by his wife, Lee Anne Hamke, his daughter, Deanna Jade Hamke, and sweet puppy Zoe of Clayton, NC. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Sandy Hamke of La Plata, MD, his niece Cindy (Matthew) Wagner and great-nephew Gunther of Goldsboro, NC, and his nephew Andrew Hamke of La Plata, MD. Aunts, cousins, countless extended family members, friends, and colleagues are grateful for his life and will miss him deeply.
Family and friends will receive visitors starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at McLaurin Funeral Home, 12830 US 70 Business Hwy W in Clayton, NC 27520. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dean's name are welcome at Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 262 Danny Thomas Place Memphis, TN 38105 or a charity close to your heart.
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