Dean W. Boerste

Dean W. Boerste, 74, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 27, 2026, at his home in Tell City.

He was born on March 22, 1952, in Tell City, the son of Ralph Boerste and Donora "Donnie" (Arnold) Boerste. Dean grew up working beside his parents, and it was there he learned the rule he would follow for the rest of his life: "Be nice to people. If you can help them, help them. I was taught that by my parents."

He spent the next seven decades proving he meant it.

Dean built his career at Lochmueller Group, where he served as a corporate officer and helped guide the firm's growth from a small circle of engineers into one of the Midwest's most respected engineering companies. But Dean never measured success in contracts or buildings. He measured it in people—the ones he hired, the ones he vouched for, the ones he gave a first chance, and more than a few he gave a second.

He gave the same full measure to public life. Dean served as chairman of the Perry County Democratic Party and as Indiana's Democratic National Committeeman, earning the trust of governors, senators, and presidents. Yet no matter how far his phone calls reached, his feet stayed planted in Perry County. He believed politics was simply neighborliness carried out on a larger scale, and he practiced both the same way—face to face, with his word as his bond.

Dean married Candy (Reed) Boerste, daughter of Ralph and Rose (Dauby) Reed of Tell City. After her passing in 2015, he turned his grief into a gift by establishing the Miss Candy's Kids for Autistic Children Fund through the Perry County Community Foundation, helping children with autism in Perry County find their voices so that Candy's kindness would outlive them both.

Dean later found love and companionship again with his devoted fiance of more than a decade, Pam Hagedorn, who remained faithfully by his side through everything that followed.

Dean is survived by his fiance, Pam Hagedorn; his stepsons, Brett (Carol) Hagedorn, Chris Hagedorn, Ryan (Kassie) Risse, and Sean (Nicole) Risse; his grandchildren, Jackson, Eleanor, Junah, and Adley Risse, Emily (Zach Powers), Kyle, and Carlie Hagedorn; his great-granddaughter, Renlee Powers; his nieces and nephews, Ian, Hana, Eli, and Elliott Reed, Eric and Brad Franzman, Cassie Franzman-Yost, Ryan Austin, Carrie Merrill-Austin, and Jarrad Austin; and, it is fair to say, most of Perry County.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Candy Boerste; his parents, Ralph and Donnie Boerste; and his brother-in-law, Sam Reed.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 7:00 pm. with a Knights of Columbus prayer service at 7pm, on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at St. Paul Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Miss Candy's Kids for Autistic Children Fund, c/o the Perry County Community Foundation or to Rivers Edge Animal Shelter.

If you ever shook Dean's hand, you were his friend. He would have wanted you to know that.

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