Dean Norman Essig

 Mr. Dean Norman Essig

Mar 13, 1961 - Mar 24, 2024

Dean Norman Essig, 63, of Homer, Illinois, died March 24, 2024, in Mobile, Alabama. He was born March 13, 1961, in Elgin, Illinois, to the late Alice (nee Rainey) and Norman Essig.

Dean was preceded in death by his wife, Sara; brother, Phillip Essig; sister, Nancie Marchetti; and by his parents.

He is survived by his children Rosalind Essig Fields (Kyle), Joseph Essig (Audra), and John Essig (Kendall); and two grandchildren, Arlow Essig and Cillian Essig.

Dean graduated from James B. Conant High School and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He served in the U.S. Army and in the Illinois National Guard.

A passionate military historian and designer, Dean built a successful wargame publishing business from the ground up with Sara. He created multiple game series with dozens of popular titles based on his meticulous research, design, rules and editing. The Gamers was based in Homer, Illinois, until its sale to Multi-Man Publishing in 2001.

Dean enjoyed spending time with family and pets, weightlifting, traveling to Civil War battlefields, and taking walks in Homer. Over the years, he also helped to coach baseball pitchers, became a licensed pilot, was a Civil War reenactor, ran marathons, earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and built telescopes.

A celebration of life will be held from 9-11 a.m. April 20 at the Essig home in Homer, Illinois. His ashes will be interred in a private service.

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