Dean Alan Kool, 93, of Sylva, NC, died Nov. 9, 2025. Services will be at 11 a.m., May 2, 2026, at the Monroe cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to United Christian Ministries of Jackson County (P.O. Box 188, Sylva, NC 28779).
Dean was the only child of Abram and Mabel Fudge Kool of Monroe where he graduated as salutatorian from high school in 1950 receiving awards in music, football, basketball, and track. Notably as a teenager, he played marimba in performances throughout the region and actually inspired the Evangelist Billy Graham--who saw him play--to incorporate marimba performances in his ministry. Dean went on to receive a music scholarship to attend Iowa State Teachers College, now known as the University of Northern Iowa. He graduated with a bachelor’s of science in music education in 1953, and he began teaching music, both instrumental and vocal, in Iowa. While teaching full loads, he began coursework toward a master’s degree program at Drake University in Des Moines.
All was put on hold when he was drafted into the Army and sent to Germany in an Army Band. Weekend parades and concerts interfered with travel opportunities so he transferred to Troop Information and Education for weekly duty and began traveling all over Europe. Learning about cultures, languages, contemporary art, and music became a lifelong passion. Dean was able to make family connections with his Dutch relatives and heritage. In his lifetime, he and his wife Shirley visited 34 countries and all but three states of the U.S.A. After retirement, he worked 19 summers with his friend Leo James who recruited international students to work in Cherokee. All that travel was put to a use.
After the Army, he completed work on his MSEd at Drake University, taught high school music, and then moved to Evanston, IL, to do further graduate work at Northwestern University. While there, he had the opportunity to study percussion for two years with Ed Metzenger, principal percussionist of the Chicago Symphony, and a summer with Saul Goodman, percussionist of the New York Philharmonic. Dean taught in Illinois and Wisconsin and then became a percussion instructor at Western Carolina University and Cedarville University in Ohio, before joining the Jackson County School system as arts coordinator. He taught music a total of 34 years.
Dean truly was a Renaissance Man: His intellectual curiosity on all subjects was never ending. He learned how to do his own plumbing, electric, and wood-working repairs. He was always looking up information for friends asking about travel/health and/or pharmacy issues. He had 17 subscriptions to all types of magazines and journals, which he devoured.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Sylva, which consumed much of his talent as a choir member, soloist, and ensemble player. He served faithfully as the men’s class Sunday school teacher for 40+ years, even during the pandemic, sending his written lessons by email weekly for five years. He was an ordained deacon, once elected chairman. During those many hours of Sunday school preparation, he became quite the theologian, first under the tutelage of his friend Dr. John Bunn.
Dean is survived by his wife of 72 years Shirley Lightfield Kool, son Dr. Eric Kool (Dr. Beth Martin) of Stanford, CA, daughter Megan Rae (Rex Brown) of New Hampshire, son Marc Kool (Elaine Bailey) of Kennesaw, GA, son Ryan Kool of Florida; six grandchildren: Merritt Benton of Minnesota, Trenton Kool (Sierra Kool) of Georgia, Miles Kool of California, Hollis Kool of California, Anna Kool of North Carolina, and Jesse Kool of Florida; and two great-grandsons Harrison and Elliot Kool of Georgia. He also has an “adopted” daughter Mary Bellune of Tennessee.
