Buchta, Dean Stanley was a one-of-a-kind son, brother, husband, uncle, grandfather and great- grandfather. He was born in Minneapolis, had four brothers, two sisters, five children and friends everywhere. They called him "the dreamer." He didn't care much about fancy cars, flashy clothes and big houses, but he loved music (especially Elvis), fishing, scratch-offs, sunflower seeds, bingo, banana splits and thrift stores. Most of all, he loved his family. He faced fear head-on with a sense of humor. He drove hydro-plane boats, ran a body shop, taught people to make broken cars beautiful again and he quit booze cold turkey 46 years ago. He had a gypsy soul. After 35 years at the Star Tribune, he bought an RV and set off on a decade-long road trip visiting friends and making new ones from Minneapolis to Arizona. When he was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2017, his goal was to get back on the road again. After one last winter in the desert, the cancer came back. His last big adventure started with his family at his side Friday, June 15. He lived, his way, nearly 74 head-strong years. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Elaine and brother, Danny. He's survived by brothers Darold (Judy), Dale (Marcy), Delby (Deb); sisters, Jo Anne and Jo Allen (Scott); ex-wife, Mary; children John (Lori), Billy, Jim (John), Mary Jo, Teresa (Chad); bonus son Todd Carlson and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, who he loved deeply. Visitation 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 21 followed by a short service and celebration of life at Kozlak Radulovich Blaine Chapel, 107th and Central Ave.