Dean Eikenberry grew up in the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Kansas.  After many years in the EUB Church of Independence, Kansas, Dean's

family moved to western Kansas where they were one of the charter families in a new EUB Church in Liberal, Kansas.  The Evangelical United Brethren Church

then merged with the Methodist Church in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church to which Dean has belonged ever since.

    Dean was called to ministry at a young age while attending youth camp at Forest Park, the EUB's camp site located in Topeka, Kansas.  His family still lived

in Independence, Kansas, at this time and a wonderful pastor at the local church mentored Dean toward a life of service to God.  Dean delivered his first

 sermon on graduation Sunday, 1965, at the new church in Liberal, Kansas.  Being the only graduating senior that year from that new, small congregation Dean

was an obvious choice for graduation Sunday.

    For years after that first sermon Dean served many churches in a variety of capacities.  He taught Sunday School classes at various age levels.  He and

his wife Patty served together as adult youth sponsors.  Dean drove the church van driving those to church who had no transportation of their own.  He served

liturgist, usher and on a variety of committees.

    It wasn't until 2004 that Dean was called into a pastoral role and began serving a two church charge.  The churches are small in size but large in spirit and

it is Dean's hope, prayer and objective to grow both churches so that their size will match their spirit.

       Dean married Patty Owens in Topeka, Kansas, at the First United Methodist Church on January 17, 1970.  They have two grown daughters who have children of their own.  Maechelle and her husband, Bryan, live in Platte City, Missouri, with their son, Robbie, and daughter, Jamie.  Shawna and her husband, Ken, live in Shawnee, Kansas.  Shawna is step-mother to Ken's son, Caleb, and daughter, Hannah, from a previous marriage.

       Prior to entering the ministry Dean had worked in sales and sales management for thirty years.  He sold primarily printing and bindery equipment to the graphic arts industry.  Serving as a regional sales manager Dean was afforded the opportunity to travel North America extensively, including Mexico and Canada.  He even had the privilege of working an industry trade show in Dusseldorf, Germany.

      Patty works as a benefits administrator at Gold Trust Company.  Perhaps her biggest job though is supporting Dean in his ministry.  Prior to her job with the Gold Trust Company Patty had worked many years for St. Joseph Light and Power in both the purchasing and human resources departments.