H. Dean Hicks, age 89, of Byron Center, MI was called to his heavenly home on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.  Dean proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman with the Marine Corps and was a member of the FRA.  He loved singing, playing the bass guitar, and a good game of spoons.  Dean was a maintenance worker, and he also enjoyed creating and building things with wood.   He was preceded in death by his daughter, Deanna Kreider; sister and brother-in-law, Judy (B.J.) Davis; sister, Janice Johnson; sister-in-law, Shirley Hicks; brother-in-law, Glenn Althouse.  Dean is survived by his wife, Joyce Karel Hicks; children, Jeffery Dean Hicks, David (Brenda) Hicks, Steven (Lisa) Hicks; step children, Kathy Christensen, Randall (Ellen) Karel, David (Katherine) Karel, Robert (Shauna) Karel, Jennifer (Michael) McDaniel, Jonathon (Emila) Karel; grandchildren and many great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Roger Hicks, Joe (Gail) Hicks, Joyce (Walter) Burgette, Sarah Joan Newell; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Henry (Bette) Hoekstra, Hilda Althouse; nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, April 21, at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids, 49508 with a one-hour visitation prior to the service from 9 - 10 AM.  Pastor Ken Kemper will officiate.  Interment will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Dean may be made to Faith Hospice.