Lewis Dean Imm, lifelong Phillips County resident, passed away July 21, 2025, at the age of 97 at the Phillips County Hospital, Phillipsburg, Kansas.   He was born September 6, 1927 in rural Phillips County, the son of Alfred G. and Barbara (Wilderman) Imm.

Growing up, Lewis Dean walked to the Banter country school north of the family farm with his brother, Ray.  He later owned the land where the school was located.  He attended through 8th grade and took the county test to receive his elementary school diploma.

Lewis Dean started farming with his Dad and pumping oilwells.  During this time and the early years of marriage he played many games with the Stuttgart baseball team.  He was also paid to go to surrounding towns to pitch, sometimes he got paid more in one game to pitch than he made pumping oil wells for a month.

On January 21, 1948, Lewis Dean married Darlene Babcock in the First Christian Church Parsonage. To this union three children were born:  a daughter Marcia, and two sons Tony, and Corey.

Lewis Dean and Darlene lived the first 14 years of their married life 12 miles northwest of Phillipsburg.  Lewis Dean continued to farm and pump oilwells, taking Marcia and Tony along to play in the "doghouse" while he completed paperwork.  He was on the Freedom Township Board in charge of grading roads, putting in culverts, getting cemeteries mowed during these years.  Darlene and Lewis Dean hosted many board meetings with the other two board members and Clarence Wintersteen, the grader operator.  Darlene did not appreciate the cigars that Clarence smoked.  He also received  a jacket honoring his 40 years of commitment to the Phillipsburg Rural Fire Department Board.

They moved to their farm south of Phillipsburg in 1961 and resided there until they moved into Prairie Wind Villa.  They marked their 75th wedding anniversary in January of 2023 with a family celebration.

On November 26, 1967, Lewis Dean Imm and wife, Darlene Imm along with their son, Tony confessed their faith in the Lord and on December 3, 1967, they were baptized into the First Christian Church of Phillipsburg, Kansas by Reverend Don Macy.

Lewis Dean coached baseball from Little League, Phillipsburg K-18 to Junior Legion when Tony and Corey played.  He shared his love of playing ball, not only with his immediate family, but many of his nieces and nephews.  Over the years, he supported and followed many young people as they participated in sports, traveling many miles to see a grandchild, niece, nephew, or friend in their chosen event.

One of the highlights for Lewis Dean was being invited to the 2010 Nicodemus celebration to be interviewed about playing baseball over the years, including many occasions against the Nicodemus teams.  He threw out the first pitch of the vintage baseball game wearing his wool Stuttgart uniform and his 12 year old grand-daughter, Hannah Imm sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

Lewis Dean and Darlene each bowled in a league from the early days of their marriage. The women's and men's league bowled on the same evening with the women bowling first.  On those evenings, Marcia and Tony spent the night with Aunt Beverly and Uncle Wendell with Wendell taking them to Labelle School the following morning.

Lewis Dean was a strong leader of the First Christian Church for over 50 years serving as elder, deacon and trustee and represented the church at Regional Meetings for many years.  He did janitorial service when the church didn't have a Janitor for a time and helped get ready for Bible Schools each summer.  Lewis Dean and several other church members performed many maintenance jobs over the years to keep the church in good shape.  The Pastors of the Church leaned on him, personally seeking him out for support and input.  He also reached out to anyone in the church or community who needed a helping hand.

Lewis Dean was a big supporter of the Lakeview Christian Church Camp, not only a strong financial supporter, but also did physical work at the camp to keep it up.  He and Darlene were huge supporters of the Colorado Christian Home and the Kansas Christian Home at Newton, making trips to deliver food, supplies and quilts to both locations.

He was a farmer and rancher who loved the land, his family, his church, and his friends. The words that others used to describe him were a kind, soft-spoken man, always having the time to visit or lend a helping hand to anyone.

Lewis Dean was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, his parents, son, Corey, brother Ray Imm and wife Joann, sister-in-law Katherine Hoover and husband, Bill of Phillipsburg, brother-in-law Clayton Babcock and wife, Betty, of Lebanon, sister-in-law Gloria Babcock of Phillipsburg, and sister-in-law Delores Panter of Smith Center.

Survivors include his children, Marcia Jarmer (Tom) of Wichita, Tony Imm (Linda), and daughter-in-law, Mandy Imm of Phillipsburg, his brothers-in-law Don Babcock and Terry Babcock (Carolyn), of Phillipsburg and Fred Panter of Osborne, sisters-in-law Beverly Jarvis (Wendell), Phillipsburg, and Mary Miller (Butch) of Lebanon, Tennessee.   His grandchildren include Lance Jarmer (Andra) of Wichita, Dr. Shana Jarmer-Camblin (Jason), Wellington, Anthony Imm (Bailey), Laike, Sophie, and Josie Imm, all of Phillipsburg, and Hannah Mongeau (Shane) of Glade as well as great-grandchildren Jaret (Becca) Jarmer of Norwich, Jenna and Jessa Jarmer of Wichita, Sadie, Owen and Emma Camblin of Wellington, Tessa and Matthew Imm of Phillipsburg, and Quinley and Ella Mongeau of Glade.   He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the First Christian Church with Pastor Wyatt Abell officiating.  Burial will follow at the Fairview Cemetery in Phillipsburg.  The services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook Page. Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Mr. Imm will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday, July 31st and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, August 1st at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel. The family will receive friends Friday, August 1st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for visitation at the funeral chapel.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Christian Church.