Dean J. Elsbecker

Dean Elsbecker, 63, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on November 6th, 2023. He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1960, the son of Donald and Helen Elsbecker. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1978. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he was honorably discharged after serving his country for 4 years. He then pursued a lengthy career in welding in Rochelle, Illinois, where he worked for PBM Concrete for almost 20 years. He was married to Jill (Dvorak) from 1986 until 1993 and had three loving children.

Dean enjoyed spending time with his children, making sure to see them every weekend while they were growing up. He was great at creating memories for his kids. Weekends were spent camping, fishing, and target shooting at the Conservation Club; building forts in the summer and winter; playing cards and board games for hours. Dean was especially talented at inventing games or stories right on the spot with anything that he could find.

Dean had a very sarcastic sense of humor and could often be heard saying, “That’s sarcasm, you will learn about it when you get older.” He was an avid fan of football and the Chicago Bears, watching John Wayne movies, western shows, and drinking an ice-cold Busch Light.

He is survived by his two oldest children, Chase (Robyn) Zajac-Elsbecker and Emily (Jeffrey) Kittoe, and their mother, Jill; two beautiful granddaughters, Briar, and Alice; nieces and nephews; and sisters, Sandra Rhodes, Lynn (John) Anderson, Karen Elsbecker, Arlene (DJ) Rose, and Terri (Darin) Rose. He was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest son, Jacob Elsbecker.

Dean’s children would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to his sisters and brothers-in-law for their kind and attentive care over the past several years. This amazing care allowed Dean to live independently in his home, which was his ultimate wish.

Cremation rites have been accorded to Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com