Dariel Dean Grosscup

Dariel “Dean” Grosscup, 88, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Thursday, October 23, 2025, in his home while holding Martha’s hand. He was born on April 17, 1937, at a farm home in Louisa County, Iowa, the son of Dariel and Grace (Hartsock) Grosscup.

After graduating from Wyman High School in 1954, Dean attended AIC Business School in Davenport, Iowa. Following the completion of business school, he gained employment at International Harvester as an Accounting Clerk in Davenport, Iowa.

Due to the draft, Dean decided to enlist in the U.S. Army and spent two years at Fort Huachuca, located near Bisbee, Arizona. When he returned from the service, International Harvester relocated him to the Des Moines, Iowa office.

On a personal note, the relocation was the best thing to happen to Dean. He met the love of his life through a blind date, Martha McCord. Dean proposed within eight months, and they were married five months later on September 16, 1961, at the Iconium Methodist Church in Iconium, Iowa.

Their married life together began in Des Moines, Iowa. In January 1962, Dean was transferred to Springfield, Illinois. The young couple bought their first home, a two-bedroom, one-bath cottage-style house. Their first son, Kevin Dean, was born on January 21, 1963.

As Dean’s business skills were recognized, International Harvester transferred him to various domestic locations. The family moved to Concord, California, in October 1965, where two more children joined the Grosscup family — Charles Edward, born December 28, 1965, and Janice Arlene, born November 29, 1966. They enjoyed the California sun, beaches, and the lack of snow. Dean often called back to Iowa at Christmas to tell family he had mowed the lawn earlier that day.

In 1975, the Oakland, California office was permanently closed, and the family made the 2,000-mile trek to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was a short 14-month stay, as the Pennsylvania office was also closed. International Harvester later sent Dean to the Atlanta office in 1976, where he was required to oversee three office closures — hard and difficult tasks. That same year, the Grosscups moved again, this time to Naperville, Illinois, just outside Chicago. The family stayed in the Chicago area until February 1983, when they relocated for the final time to Overland Park, Kansas.

Dean remained with International Harvester, later known as Navistar, until he retired early in 1993 at the age of 54. His retirement decision came when he chose not to relocate to Knoxville, Tennessee, after the Overland Park office was permanently closed.

Dean highly valued education and pursued college courses throughout his career. Before the digital age, multiple relocations required him to restart his degree several times. His persistence paid off when he graduated from Mid-America Nazarene College in 1990 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources. With Dean and Martha’s support, all three of their children became college graduates.

No matter where the Grosscups called home, there was always a large garden in the backyard. Dean’s entire being was “green,” not just his thumb. In California, the garden featured a lemon tree, almond tree, strawberries, and apricots. In Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Kansas, he grew tomatoes, green beans, sugar peas, green peppers, carrots, beets, potatoes, and more. Working in the garden gave Dean peace and relaxation, while Martha stayed busy canning every summer and fall.

Finding a church family was always a priority for the Grosscups. Dean served faithfully in the churches they attended as chairman of the board, trustee, treasurer, and member of the men’s group. When the family settled in Overland Park, they joined Hillcrest Christian Church, where Dean and Martha have been active members for over 40 years.

Retirement suited Dean well. After years of long office hours and completing his degree, he discovered a new passion — stained glass. What began as a hobby evolved into part-time teaching and bookkeeping for Bearden’s Stained Glass. His beautiful stained-glass works are treasured in many homes of family and friends. Dean also donated five stained-glass window panels to the Iconium Methodist Church in honor of Martha, her parents, brothers, and cousin.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Dariel Frank and Grace Arlene (Hartsock) Grosscup; his sisters, Evelyn Parris and Helen Bentrott; and his brother, William. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Todd Alan and Charles Edward Grosscup.

He leaves his beloved wife of 64 years, Martha Lucille Grosscup; two children, Kevin (Balena) Grosscup and Jan (Bill) Grosscup-Strelow; and three grandchildren, Edward Dean, Elise Lucille, and Eric Charles Grosscup-Strelow. He is also survived by his sister, Pauline (LeRoy) Brown of Davenport, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Hillcrest Christian Church, 11411 Quivira Road, Overland Park, Kansas 66210. The family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the church.

Graveside Services will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Iconium Cemetery, Iconium, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hillcrest Christian Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice in Dean’s name.