Katherine E. (Hammel) Dean, 62, of Dubuque, died August 8, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center following her battle with scleroderma.  She was born August 11, 1948 in Dubuque, daughter of Omer F. and Loretta M. (Schueller) Hammel.

Katherine attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and was a 1966 graduate of Wahlert High School.  She married Roger W. Dean on November 14, 1970 at Sacred Heart Church.  Katherine retired from Flexsteel Industries after 38 1/2 years.  She also worked part-time at McDonald's, Walmart and Kohl's, where she really liked talking with people as she was working.

She really enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint and ceramics.  Katherine was a major shopper and looked forward to getting the Sunday paper ads.  Surviving are her husband, Roger W. Dean, of Dubuque; four children, James J. Dean, Steven W. (Kate) Dean, and Jason M. (Kara) Dean, all of Dubuque, and Sara E. (Cory Bourquin) Dean of Apple River, IL; two grandsonsp; a sister, Pat (Thomas) Zwack; three brothers, Bill (Bonnie) Hammel, Ronald (Marcia) Hammel and Jerry (Carol) Hammel all of Dubuque.  She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joseph, at birth, and Thomas.