Andrew Dean

Andrew was born on September 11, 1953 in the small community of Fontwell in Sussex, England. From a young age Andrew loved the outdoors and became fascinated with hunting and trapping. After leaving school at the age of 15, Andrew wanted to become a game keeper, but his dad encouraged him to get a trade. Andrew apprenticed as a machinist in England and then applied to come to Canada to work for the Hudson’s Bay Company. In 1972, he worked for HBC first at Grassy Narrows First Nation, and then later at Cat Lake First Nation. After working with HBC for a year, Andrew took a job as a machinist at the paper mill in Kenora, where he met Donna Major. They were married in 1976.

Andrew was most at home in the wilderness of Northwestern Ontario. After the birth of their first son, Jeffrey, Andrew was awarded his own trapline on Dryberry Lake, where he and Donna built a cabin and spent a lot of time with their growing family of boys – Jeffrey, Jeremy and James. Andrew trapped on Dryberry for decades, until enlisting his friend and fellow outdoorsman, Lee Blythe, to help run it. They continued to manage Dryberry together, before Andrew got a second line on Longbow Lake. For Andrew, trapping was not just a hobby, it was a passion. He was active in trappers’ organizations and educating children at local schools. Andrew was living his dream.

Andrew was a loving husband, father, brother, and uncle. He was always generous with his time to help neighbors, friends or family who needed help. His enthusiasm for his family, life, nature – and even northern winters – was an inspiration for all who knew him. He maintained close relationships with friends around the world who shared his interests in the outdoors, but particularly his family who remained in England.

Andrew leaves behind his loving wife Donna (Major), his sons Jeffrey (Rachel), Jeremy (Carena) and James (Ashley) and the grandchildren he adored Brax and Grae. He will be missed by his brother John (Jenny) and his sister Yasmin (Andrew) and children. He will also be missed by Donna’s siblings Marge, Matthew (Ruth) and Will (Judy) and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held in celebration of Andrew’s life at Lakeside Baptist Church on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 1:00pm. A light lunch will follow.

Please consider a donation to the following charities in lieu of flowers: Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation or Jubilee Church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com for the Dean family.