Merlin Dean Schantz, Sr. was born on January 24, 1935 at the Home of Redeeming Love in Oklahoma City. He was adopted by Alvin Christian and Lydia (Detweiler) Schantz when he was six weeks old and grew up on the family farm north of Hydro. He attended Pleasant View Mennonite Church where he accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized as a youth. Dean attended Hydro Public Schools through 10th grade before attending Jabok Bible School where he graduated in 1953. Dean was drafted for the Korean War, but served his time as a conscientious objector in St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita as an orderly from 1953-1955. There he met the love of his life, Grace Johnson. They were married on November 9, 1954 at the Mennonite church in Casselton, North Dakota. After completing his service in Wichita, they returned to the family farm in Oklahoma where they raised wheat, beans, cotton and cattle.

Dean's activities in his church included involvement in the Men's Chorus and Sunday School. Dean and Grace were also very active in Mennonite Disaster Relief Service where Dean served as the Oklahoma chairman for many years. Dean assisted in organizing trips for students and adults to assist communities after natural disasters and impacting many lives. He was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church in Hydro at the time of his death.

Dean turned over the farming operations to his son Merlin during the mid 1980's and began driving charter bus for several years before returning to help on the farm until this past December. He enjoyed mowing waterways during the summer, driving truck, running cotton module builder as well as going after parts. Dean never met a stranger and enjoyed drinking coffee with others in his later years. He always had a story or a joke for any situation. Dean greatly enjoyed his family and giving the great-grandchildren rides on the golf cart.

Dean passed away after a brief illness on February 7, 2018 at Select Specialty Hospital in Oklahoma City at the age of 83 years and 13 days. He is survived by his wife, Grace, of the home, children Debora (Anthony) Hooper of Lawton, Oklahoma; Merlin (Lillian) Schantz of Hydro, Oklahoma; Steven (Linda) of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri and Lea Schantz of El Reno, Oklahoma. Dean is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be made to the National Mennonite Disaster Relief Services.