Dennis H. Schechinger
April 30, 1942 - October 18, 2013
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Dennis H. Schechinger
April 30, 1942 - October 18, 2013
Obituary
As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death.
Leonardo da Vinci
Dennis Henry Schechinger of Laguna Woods, CA, beloved son, father, grandfather, and brother, died on October 18th, 2013, at one A.M. He died after a long battle with mesothelioma. He was born on April 30, 1943 in Carroll, Iowa to Phyllis Mae Hocking and Leonard Otto Schechinger.
Dennis grew up in Carroll, Iowa and graduated from Kuemper High School in 1962, where he excelled in football. He married his high school sweetheart, Lois Loretta Kasperbauer on February 23rd, 1963. He moved to Lomita, California when he joined the Navy. After four and a half years in the Navy, he worked at Douglass Aerospace and went to college, graduating two years later. He had an enjoyable career with Xerox where he worked as a technical representative from 1968 until 1973. After “retiring” early, he began the business that made him a success, real estate. He continued to work on his investments properties until his death. He enjoyed his career of helping people, and had a great talent for fixing things.
He was a happy, friendly and generous man whose greatest pleasure was making others happy. When he bought a new computer he gave the old one to the gardener, because he had chatted with him and found out that the gardener could use it. He counted many of his tenants and workers as friends as he cared about each of them. He enjoyed trips with his family. He regularly took his family camping in Yosemite, fishing at Bass Lake and even tried to hike Mt. Whitney. Every other year he drove half way across the country to visit his family in Iowa. More recently he enjoyed music, dancing and golf. He regularly went to local jazz festivals and stayed all weekend. Once he was known to have danced with every girl in the bar when he went out. When he danced the polka your feet didn’t touch the ground as you flew around. Dennis had a passion for golf. After he started playing there was rarely a week that passed in which he didn’t play. He found a way to play golf even while on vacation. Dennis was a longtime member of the South Course Men’s club where he served as club president for 4 years, and 20 years as tournament chairman. Recently he expanded his vacations to include Alaska, New Orleans, Washington DC and China with Maria Chih Fong Chu.
Dennis is survived by his mother Phyllis Schechinger, daughters Lorie Jean Garland and Linda Sue Waldman, son Darrin James Schechinger, brothers Dean Schechinger, Duane Schechinger and Dale Schechinger, sisters Joyce McAllister, Jane Christiansen, Jo Schechinger, Jill Smith, Julie Accola, Janell Schechinger, Jean Scott, grand-daughters Michelle Waldman and Mutiara Schechinger, grandson Kevin Waldman and many other loved friends and family. Dennis was predeceased by his father, Leonard Schechinger (June 11th, 1984) and his sister Janice Schechinger (October 21st, 2000).
The ‘Celebration of Life’ will be held at O’Connor Mortuary on October 26th , 2013, and will begin at 4:00 pm. A memorial Scholarship has been set up in his honor. Donations can be sent to Cerritos College www.cerritos.edu/foundation click on the “Give Now” button, then click on “Other” and write “Schechinger Scholarship” to direct the donation to his scholarship, finally put in your donation information. (If you would prefer to write a check, make it out to “Cerritos College Foundation”. Please identify the scholarship on the memo line). Or give to your favorite charity. Floral donations can be sent to the O’Connor Mortuary (25301 Alicia Parkway Laguna Hills, CA 92653).
To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death of one’s own free choice, death at the proper time, with a clear head and with joyfulness, consummated in the midst of children and witnesses: so that an actual leave-taking is possible while he who is leaving is still there.
Friedrich Nietzsche
17 responses to Dennis H. Schechinger
Kevin Mercier says:
October 24, 2013
I only knew Dennis from the Little Rec Men’s Club. I always looked forward to having a brief chat and exchange a couple of wise cracks with him. I thought he was a pretty neat man. So sorry he is gone. Kevin Mercier
Leo & Joleen Kasparbauer says:
October 24, 2013
We are going to really miss Dennis. We will miss his visits twice a year. When he would come we would almost always sit up till midnight talking about so many things. We would talk about the old times, he was always telling us about his days growing up and where his girl friends all lived. He had such a good memory. We were also shocked of the facts of history he knew and we talked about. With all this said we have to talk about his love for ice cream. Not the last few years but earlier we remember getting out the small bowls, and Dennis would go to the cabinets and get out a larger bowl. He would say if were going to eat ice cream lets make it worth while. Dennis was a very good man we will all miss. Leo & Joleen Kasparbauer
Al says:
October 25, 2013
I’ve known Dennis for the just a couple of years since I’ve worked as the Marshal at Lil Rec. I’m gonna miss our little chats we had before he tee’d off or while he was playing with the men’s club. He was always had a pleasant disposition even though he was struggling with his condition, but he never gave up and continued to play. Well I guess I won’t have to say take it easy out there today Dennis. I’m sure you’re in good hands, probably getting eagles and birdie putts up there. Take care Dennis we’ll miss ya down here….Al Cruz, the marshal with no game 🙂
Jeff Garland says:
October 25, 2013
wow it is hard to believe my father in law is gone. He was always so full of life and he brought it every where he went. Lorie and I went to Palm Springs once to a jazz festival. Must folks would just dance who they came with NOT Dennis, I think he dance with every woman there, heck maybe even a few men too. He would introduce Lorie and I to it seemed like everyone there. He was so proud that someone in the family showed up. He knew everyone there, must have been 500 people there. It was so funny watching him dance with his daughter. Once at work I was talking how my father in law played so much golf. Heck the man I was talking to not only knew Dennis but had played golf with him too. That Ben Hogan golf hat he wore When ever I see that hat it will always remind me of Dennis. He loved to tell stories about the farm. He told me one I thought was a whooper. I guess they had a dog named Terrie I think. Anyway he said when it was like 12 years old it got run over by a train, and lost its leg. He said it was always around the farm. He left the for years and came back and that dog was still alive. He said it lived to be like 30 years old. Unreal must have ate a lot of grandma cooking. Thanks Dennis for giving such wonderful wife….. Jeff Garland
Joyce M. McAllister says:
October 25, 2013
The world will never b the same w/out my older bro, Den! There r so many fun stories re Denny, but 1 of my favorite recollections is ratting him out when I couldn’t convince him not to run off to Tennessee @ 16 to marry his 16 year old girlfriend?. The same night he came to thank me for telling Dad & Mom!