Dean Schow

Dean Schow, 69, of rural Paxton, died Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in the Ogallala Community Hospital after a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Dean was born July 12, 1944, in Julesburg, Colorado, the son of William and Ella (Swanson) Schow. He was raised and lived his entire life on the family farm south of Paxton. The 4-H program was a lifelong passion of Dean's. He participated in ten years of 4-H livestock projects, served on the Keith Co. Judging team and was 4-H King in 1960. He graduated from Paxton Consolidated Schools in 1962 and attended a Farm and Ranch Short Course at the University of Nebraska in the fall of 1962. At this time Dean continued farming with his father and also worked for Nebraska Public Power for a year and a half until he left for Basic Training with the Army National Guard. He served six years, receiving an Honorable Discharge with the rank of Head Quarters Platoon Sargent. Dean had always dreamed of being an auctioneer from the times he got to go to the salebarn with his father when they sold hogs. He would practice chanting on the John Deere "A" tractor in the fields. Before marrying Leah J. Keep in March of 1967, his Dad told him he better go to auction school or he never would. Regarding being an auctioneer, his Dad told him "I want you to be a good one." Dean attended the Reisch World-Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA, graduating in December of 1966. Upon returning home he nervously approached Clyde Speck at Ogallala Livestock and told him he was an auctioneer and wondered if they needed any help. Clyde responded with "I'll bet you are (an auctioneer)! One of our ringmen is going to be gone on Saturday, do you suppose you could come and work the ring? Be sure and bring your own whip and if you get hungry, I'll order a sandwich from the cafe, but be sure you stop and pay for it after the sale!" Dean showed up on Saturday, working a solid 12 hours. Clyde asked if he would like to come back the next week, and Dean's career was born. Over the years he has also worked simultaneously at the Livestock Auctions at Chappell, North Platte, Gothenburg, Farmers & Ranchers in Ft. Collins, CO; Stockmens in Torrington, WY; Ranchland in Wray, Colo; Ranchers & Farmers in Burlington, CO; Quality in Stratton, CO; Corman in Burlington, CO; as well as numerous bull sales, horse sales and 4-H livestock sales. Dean freely shared his talents selling countless benefit auctions as well as fundraiser auctions for Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. He was fortunate to be involved in selling numerous hunting trips all over the world for the Foundation for North America Wild Sheep. For many years Dean sold machinery consignment auctions for Ward Brothers in Clovis, NM and Madden Brothers in Torrington, WY. In 1978 Dean won a Regional title in the World Livestock Auctioneer contest in Marshall, MO. He followed that in 1979 with the Reserve World Livestock Auctioneer title competing in Brush, CO. In 1980 Dean claimed the title of World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, competing in Templeton, Cal. As a result of that Championship he was hired as a spokesman for Syntex Agri-business promoting their Synovex implants through radio and television ads, public appearances and publications throughout the Midwest. Dean served as an instructor at the Nebraska Auction School in Lincoln, NE; World-Wide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, IA; and an advanced livestock auctioneering course at the stockyards in South St. Paul, MN. He conducted bid calling seminars for other state auctioneer associations and at the National Auctioneer Association conventions. When Dean married Leah J. Keep of Ogallala in March 1967 they became partners not only in life but in business as well. Together they operated the family farm as well as Schow Auction Service. The complete auction service offers computerized clerking as well as auctioneering and involves many of the family members. Kyle and Kevin serve as auctioneers and ringmen while Korey assists Leah with cashiering as well as clerking. In recent years Dean's granddaughters and grandsons have assisted with auction as cashiers, clerks, and ringmen, with one or more of them destined to be an auctioneer as well! Dean was actively involved in the Nebraska Auctioneers Association (NeAA). Over the years Dean served on the Board of Directors, as President, was named Auctioneer of the Year in 1984, and in 2013 was inducted into the NeAA Hall of Fame along with wife Leah into the NeAA Auxiliary Hall of Fame. The family's service to the association continues where all three sons have served on the Board of Directors, Kyle is a past President & Auctioneer of the Year, and Kevin will assume the helm as President in 2015. Dean was a member of the Paxton United Methodist Church, Keith County Farm Bureau, Ogallala Elks Lodge, Nebraska and National Cattlemens Associations,Nebraska and National Auctioneer Associations, was a charter member of the Paxton Optimist Club. He served three consecutive terms on the Paxton Consolidated Schools Board of Education; Keith County 4-H Council; and four terms on the Keith County Fair Board. Preceding him in death were his parents, sister Marlyce Bierma, father-in-law Bill Keep, and brother-in-law Bruce Keep. Survivors include his wife Leah Schow and three sons: Kyle (Cheryl) Schow and their children Bailee and Ben; Kevin (Kim) Schow and their children Karlee, Kaden and Keegan; and Korey (Roxy) Schow and their children August and Ruby; all of Paxton; one sister Merilyn (Warren) Mizell of Westminster, Colo.; mother-in-law Jean Keep of Ogallala; and two brothers-in-law Gayle Bierma of Omaha and Rex (Carolyn) Keep of Vail, CO. and two sisters-in-law Mikki (Mark) Lautenschlager of Longmont, Colo. and Lisa (Tad) Gray of Valley City, Ohio; their families and many other relatives and friends. The family has chosen cremation. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be Saturday, June 28, at 10 a.m. MDT in the Paxton School Gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the benefit of the Paxton Schools Foundation and the Paxton United Methodist Church. If you are unable to attend the service, you may watch a live stream provided by the Paxton Consolidated Schools by clicking this link: http://www.livestream.com/paxtonschools/

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