Inez Jeannette (Shannep) Dee

Obituary for Inez Jeannette (Shannep) Dee

Inez Jeannette (Shannep) Dee, 97, entered her life eternal Monday, August 6, 2018, at the Haxtun Hospital.

Inez was born to True Lyghter and Ella (Dekker) Shannep at the family farm north of Haxtun on May 31, 1921.  Inez was proud of her heritage and often told of her Dekker grandparents coming to this country from Holland.  Her early school years saw her riding on horseback to the Glenwood country schoolhouse, along with her younger brother Stanley Eugene “Gene” Shannep.  She did a lot of work to help her mother around the house and her father on the farm, often by herding the cattle or driving the horses in the field.  Later she attended Haxtun High School, graduating with the Class of 1938, which took its Senior Sneak to Chimney Canyons north of Sterling.  That fall she left Haxtun to study at Barnes Business College in downtown Denver.  Unfortunately, time there was cut short by her necessary return to Haxtun in 1940 to help care for her ailing mother, who passed in 1941.

Fortunately, her return home led to her introduction to Henry Augustus Dee, the handsome young son, recently arrived from Iowa, of nearby neighbor Herbert Henry Dee.  After a brief courtship the couple, accompanied by friends Les and Arlene Seger, were married in Sidney, Nebraska on January 12, 1941, then taking up residency on the family farm 12 miles north of Haxtun.  They worked together on the farm and ranch operation, which combined dryland strip tillage, the raising of registered polled Hereford cattle and always a few of her beloved horses. 

After the first decade of their life together, the young couple’s unfulfilled desire to have a family began the next decade’s work to solve the challenge through adoption.  As a result, Robert Henry (DOB 8/10/52), arrived in their home in early 1953, followed by Barry Herbert (DOB 1/1/55) in late 1955, and Tammy Jean (DOB 1/4/1958) in May, 1960.  Thereafter, the constant joy of Inez’ life was the love she bestowed on the growing family, as evidenced from her kitchen (knot rolls, divinity, goulash, etc.), her sewing machine (dresses, seasonal costumes, etc.), her camera (yearly family photos, mountain trip pics, etc.), and time behind the wheel (baseball games, vacation Bible school, etc.).

As Inez loved to be outside and was a gifted athlete and tough competitor, she enjoyed sports throughout her life, from fast-pitch softball, to golf and bowling, with championships and trophies and stats to prove her prowess.  Her energies were also dedicated in service to her strong Christian faith, which she didn’t have to tell you about because the way she lived her life spoke most strongly of her faith, first at the Methodist Church and then for many more years at the Berean Church. 

 Inez and Henry shared sixty-one wonderful and eventful years together until his death in February, 2002. Inez thoroughly enjoyed the visits from her grandchildren over the years and followed their lives in the last few decades through social media.  In addition to Henry, preceding her in death were her brother and his wife, Gene (1995) and sister-in-law Jodelle (Barker) Shannep (2017).  Inez is survived by her children, Robert and wife Nancy of Haxtun, Barry and wife Heather of Sedgwick, and Tammy Snyder of Haxtun, grandchildren and great grandchildren Michael Dee and wife Grace Nichols and children Harrison, Sullivan, Lexington and Lincoln of Morrison, CO; Kevan Dee of Littleton, CO; Ryan Dee of Jackson, WY; Crystal (Dee) Aznoe and husband Kevin and children Isaac, Elijah, Gabriel, Josiah and Philip of Alpine, WY; Noah Dee and wife Brianna and children Nathan, Chantae, Vontae and Dreshon of Atwood, CO;  Joilene (Dee) Rasmussen and husband Scott and children Cody and Tyra of Ovid, CO; Laura (Dee) Lerud and husband Jesse of Julesburg, CO;  Alex Snider and wife Rebecca and son Jeremy of Savannah, GA; Staci (Snider) Landsem and husband Tim and children Skyler, Mason and Bryson of Detroit Lakes, MN. 

The memorial service for Inez Jeannette Dee was held Monday, August 13, 2018, at the Haxtun Berean Bible Church with Pastor Jeri Soens presiding.  Inurnment was at the Haxtun Cemetery following the service and luncheon for her family and friends.  Memorials may be made in the name of Inez Dee for use within the Haxtun community in ways reflective of her interests and loving spirit.

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