Bob Dean "Dino" Ickes passed away peacefully at the Village Healthcare and Rehab in Missoula, Mont., Christmas Day, 2024. Dino was born on February 4, 1936, in St. Michael, Pa., to Myron and Vanessa (née Lamison) Ickes. He was preceded in death by both parents; his daughter, Lisa Ickes; brother, George; and sisters Fran Graf and Sandy Ickes.

Dino's family moved to East Detroit, Mich., while he was young and where he grew up. He attended and graduated from East Detroit High School in 1954. He was industrious starting at a young age by getting up early before his classes and working on a milk truck. That's probably why he was a "morning person" his entire life. He had many tales about his job including how he remembered an old horse who still pulled a milk wagon, the last of the wagons, and knew the route so well he would stop at each house.

Dino was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1959 and served from 1959-1961. When first reporting, he was issued khaki summer uniforms only to find he was being sent to Germany and needed warmer wear. He often boasted that he was stationed in Germany at the same time as Elvis. Dino became a shift leader and was in charge of the kitchen and feeding hundreds of men. At times he was stationed in the field close to the East German border where he learned field cooking. He was most proud of his Thanksgiving dinners when he fed hundreds at the mess hall. He was a sharpshooter and was awarded the sharpshooter medal for the M-1 rifle.

During his long career, he became a sous chef and worked at various restaurants and clubs in the Detroit area including United Rubber Company, Detroit Athletic Club, and Detroit Boat Club at Belle Isle, a place he truly loved. His last employment before retirement was at the Meadowbrook Country Club in Ballwin, Mo., where he worked for 20 years after he and his family moved to St. Louis.

As a true Detroiter, he was a fan of all Detroit teams from the Tigers, Redwings, Lions to the Pistons along with rooting for the University of Michigan. Although, he was persuaded at times to root for the Cardinals. Some of Dino's heroes were Gordie Howe, Barry Sanders and Steve Yzerman.

Dino was also an avid athlete in his own right, playing hockey, tennis and racket and hand ball. He was an ace on several bowling teams throughout his life and enjoyed traveling around the Midwest to tournaments. He played a mean game of darts too along with horse shoes.

After retirement in 1998, Dino moved to Missoula, Mont., where he quickly became a Griz fan, especially of Robin Selvig and the Lady Griz. He enjoyed retirement immensely and enjoyed the quiet life working in the yard and fixing up the house along with several trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas.

He was also known around the neighborhood as the "dog whisperer," and he never met a dog he didn't like. On his daily walks with his Scottish terriers, he would always have his pockets full of dog "bones" for all his furry friends, and there were many. They were trained instantly as he wouldn't give them a cookie if they didn't first sit. They were his enthusiastic students. Any dog who got loose in the neighborhood would end up in the back of the garage, Dino's "man cave," where he kept a 10-pound box of Milk Bones.

Dino is survived by his daughters Shelby Nab, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands; Pam Ickes, West Chicago, Ill.; son Chad Ickes, Plainfield, Ill.; grandson Ethan Ickes, Sugar Grove, Ill.; brothers Roy (Mary), Hendersonville, S.C.; Earl (Karen), Clinton Township, Mich.; Ivan (Doris), Aurora, Colo.; his partner Renee Valley, Missoula, Mont.; and his beloved Scottie dog Angus.

Not only do the dogs miss him, but we–his family, friends and neighbors–miss him. He's probably already hiked over the rainbow bridge accompanied by all the dogs there who were waiting for him.