Dean Ramon (Rusty) Gardels TEMPLEVILLE, Md. - Dean Ramon (Rusty) Gardels, 65, of rural Templeville, died peacefully Dec. 31, 2009 in Centerville, under the care of the Hospice of Queen Anne's. Born on Feb. 2, 1944, in Carroll, Iowa, the only child of the late Ramon Arthur Gardels and Elvera Bohnsack Gardels. As a youth in Carroll, Dean enjoyed fishing for and eating bullhead catfish, a delicacy not well known outside of Iowa. He also hunted wild pheasant, rabbit and squab, and on occasion he prepared them for his parents' eating pleasure. After graduating from Carroll High School in 1962, Dean enlisted in the United States Air Force. Serving 20 years and 16 days, as he liked to say, Dean was in the Medical Corps for 7 years and was a loadmaster aboard C-141 and C-5A aircraft for 13 years. As an aircrew member, he traveled to approximately 30 countries. After retiring as a Master Sgt., he spent 2 summers seeing America and experiencing the beauty of its National Parks. In 1985 Dean established the Delmarva Brush , a small chimney cleaning business. He took pride in knowing that when it came to woodstoves, fireplaces and chimneys, he was a master craftsman. In 1999 Dean became an American Canoe Association certified open water kayak instructor. He worked for outfitters in Rock Hall, and then in 2002 joined L.L. Bean. He retired in 2005 having served as Bean's head instructor for NJ, MD, and the VA area. Dean was concerned with issues of justice and equality and enjoyed a rousing political discussion. He was co-founder and director of the Downstate Delaware Striders' Annie Jump Cannon 5 Mile Run for Women held in Leipsic, DE in the 1980's. He was a volunteer with the Dover Food Co-op, The Nature Conservancy, the Chester River Association and the Maryland Dept. of Social Services. He enjoyed reading, listening to hard driving rock and blues music, organic vegetable gardening, fishing from the natural pond on his small tree farm, and running and exploring the natural world with his wife and best friend, Andrea Illig. His greatest joys in his retirement years came from teaching his grandson, Brett, to roll a kayak and intense bicycle riding sessions with his sons and grandson. Near the end of his life, Dean said "I have the best family in the world." Dean is survived by his wife, Andrea Illig of Templeville; his son, James Dean Gardels and his wife Brenda, and their son Brett James of rural Hartly, Del.; his son Jason Scott Gardels of Dover, Del.; his first wife and mother of his sons, Sandra Gardels of Dover; his aunts Maureen E. Loots of De Moines, Iowa, Lavilla J. Taylor of Las Vegas, Nev., Violetta M. Soll of Sun City, Ariz.; and loving cousins. The family is planning to hold a Memorial Celebration at a later date. Those wishing to honor Dean may forward memorial contributions to the Hospice of Queen Anne's, 255 Comet Dr., Centerville, MD 21617. Arrangements are by Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Director, Inc. Dover. Condolences and Guest Book signings may be made via www.ambruso.com.