Robert "Bob" Miles Dennis

Peshastin, WA

Robert "Bob" Miles Dennis was called to his heavenly home February 24, 2016 at

Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, WA. He was born in Wenatchee April

17, 1932 to John "Ben" and Lola (Nichol) Dennis, the youngest of five

siblings. In his early school years, the family moved to Peshastin. Bright,

competitive and driven as a young man, Bob balanced his high school years with

excelling in team sports; especially playing baseball with the exceptional

Peshastin team, leading as student body president and helping his dad manage

the family pear orchard. Bob married his high school sweetheart, Vivian

Hughes, shortly after graduation in 1951. They were blessed with three

children: Karen, Kathryn, and Rob. Bob was a lifetime orchardist, starting his

career at the early age of six, pulling spray hoses for his dad on the old Tom

Henry ranch at the base of Olalla Canyon in Dryden. He learned the importance

of hard work, frugality, using common sense and the value of being creative.

During the children's growing up years, Bob worked at Alcoa and did line work

on the electrical towers on Stevens Pass, along with farming, hunting and

fishing. In 1965, he became the general manager of Peshastin Hi-Up Growers.

Six years later, he was asked to join the Tree Top team as a Vice-president of

Field Services. His common sense approach and past knowledge were always

welcome in the tree fruit business. His travels as a Tree Top representative

took him beyond the Pacific Northwest and the eastern part of the United

States to working internationally in Chile, Argentina, Europe, and Africa.

After the passing of Vivian in 1989, he took on a particularly challenging job

of traveling to the Shandong providence of China to orchestrate the building

of an apple slicing plant. As for pleasure-or a different twist to work-Bob

made time for yearly fishing trips to the Campbell River, British Columbia. He

was always game for adventure and challenges. In 1996, Bob honored Jean

Foster's parents by asking their permission to marry her. They were delighted

as they knew the Dennis' family and the values Bob represented. In 1996,

during marriage counseling, Bob accepted the salvation of God as his personal

savior, becoming deeply committed to his faith and devoted to his church.

After the 9-11 bombing, Bob spearheaded the rebuilding of the Dryden Community

Church steeple to accommodate the current beautiful glowing cross. A special

on-going project was to distribute and maintain lighted crosses throughout the

valley as a form of ministry and devotion. In 2000, Bob was asked to join a

group going to Tonga to build a medical center for children with special

needs. He returned to work in Tonga three more times, experiencing God's work

not only in his life, but in others. He was a servant to the Lord with his

gifts of remodeling the basement of the parsonage, beautifying the church with

flowers and using his skills where ever needed. In his later years, Bob

learned to ski, loving the freedom and rush of speeding down the hill, not

leisurely skiing, but how many trips up and down the hill he could make in a

certain amount of time. This mind set was also evident in fishing adventures,

ocean, river, creek or lake, he shared with friends and family; Bob claimed a

good fishing trip by how many fish he caught. Bob savored his coffee dates

with the grandkids and to surprise others with lattes. Hawaii was a special

place in Bob's heart; he loved the warmth, flowers, beauty, fresh fruit,

friends (old and new), and the ability to escape the busyness of home. There

were no strangers in Bob's life. He always had a twinkle in his eyes and a hug

to share. He valued his independence, had a sense of urgency to complete a

task and loved to help others. Bob believed what we teach our children today

will influence tomorrow's world.

He is survived by his wife, Jean;, children, Kathryn Wallace, Seattle, WA, Rob

(Janice) Dennis, Peshastin, WA, Gary (Mindy) Waunch, Leavenworth, WA, and Eric

(Deanna) Waunch, Mill Creek, WA; son-in-law, Dave Tait, Cashmere, WA; sister-

in law, Darla (Keith) Bennett, Leavenworth, WA; brother-in-laws, Bob (Lamona)

Foster, Olympia, WA, and Elmer "Spud" Werner of Federal Way, WA;

grandchildren, Brandon Bates, Seattle, WA, Lindsey Wallace, Cashmere, WA,

Marshall (Hannah) Wallace, Wenatchee, WA, Courtney (Matthew) Conover, Cumming,

GA, Lauren (Rick) Grad, Portland, OR, Sawyer Waunch, Leavenworth, WA, Camille

Waunch, Mill Creek, WA and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death

by wife, Vivian, and daughter, Karen.

A Funeral Service of Commemoration to Celebrate the Life of Robert "Bob"

Dennis will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Dryden

Community Church in Dryden, WA, with Pastor Matthew Payne officiating.

Concluding service and interment will be at the Peshastin Cemetery at 3:00

p.m. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 18, 2016 from 1:00-7:00 p.m. at

Ward's Funeral Chapel in Leavenworth, WA. Memorials may be made in Bob's name

to the Dryden Community Church in Dryden. Ward's Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth,

WA is in charge of the arrangements.