Dean Hertenstein Memorial Page

Dean I. Hertenstein died July 10, 2020, a resident of Coppell, Texas. He was born on December 22, 1940 in Mt. Vernon, IL to Irvin Hertenstein and Rose Brown Hertenstein. A retired Caterpillar dealer executive, he had a lifelong passion for business, travel, and music.

He is survived by his wife, Rev. Dr. Ginger Hertenstein; children, Elizabeth Bisson (Douglas), Katherine Voss, James Hertenstein (Amy Knight), Jonathan Carroll, Lee Carroll, and David Hertenstein (Destinee); grandchildren, Lauren Voss, Cole Bisson, Asher Voss, Corbin Voss, and Evelyn Hertenstein; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Joanne Vitt and Doris Mayfield.

His interest in business began as a youth when he worked on the family golf course built by his father. He played as a thirteen-year-old in the Illinois State Junior Amateur Championship and won. When not playing he worked in the pro shop and café. He planned to play golf in college but chose instead to pursue Mechanical Engineering and participated in the Army ROTC program at the University of Oklahoma. Upon graduating he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the US Army. He served his commission in the field artillery branch at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He then began his career at Caterpillar Int. in Peoria Illinois and retired as an executive with Darr Equipment Company in North Texas. During that time he received an MBA in International Business from the University of Dallas. He was asked to be a coach/mentor for the University of Dallas Praxis Program, working for seven years with select business majors during their senior year business internships. 

His other interests included his beloved children and grandchildren, a long-time season ticketholder of the Texas Rangers, riding his bike, traveling, and being active in church, singing with the choir. You could not find a better friend, husband, father, or grandfather. He was a pillar of faith to all who knew him and a fearless servant of our Lord’s kingdom, saying, “You have a friend that is closer than the very air you breathe. His name is Jesus.”