Dennis Wayne Smitch
March 10, 1948 - November 20, 2007
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Dennis Wayne Smitch
March 10, 1948 - November 20, 2007
Obituary
DENNIS WAYNE SMITCH
March 10, 1948 – November 20, 2007
Dennis Wayne Smitch passed away November 20, 2007 at home with his son Justin Smitch 28 years, wife of 33 years Donna Smitch & mother in law Betty Packard at his side. Dennis was 59 and enjoying life to the fullest prior this fight with cancer. He was born to Colin & Barbara Smitch in Grand Junction, CO. Dennis Graduated from Mohave County High School in 1966 in Kingman, AZ.
Dennis was a blade operator for the last 18 years for Miller Blade Company in Southern California and was working the day before he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer on August 22, 2007.
In 2003 Dennis finally got his Harley Davidson Road King Classic, going on every trip he could make time for. His latest and greatest trip was riding his bike from Mission Viejo, CA to Bell Fourche, SD, meeting with friends & his son for their ride through Glacier National Park and over Beartooth Pass then back to Sturgis, SD.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge of Glenwood Springs for 36 years, The Loyal Order of Moose for 36 years, and The Operating Engineers for a total of 42 years.
He is also survived by his sister Cheryl Ann Lumbardy of Grand Junction, Colorado, niece Charlene Charles June of Swansea, Illinois, & niece Colene Chris Rowland of Grand Junction, Colorado.
Visitation will be held at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills, CA, Saturday, December 1, 2007 from 3:00 to 5:00PM. Memorial Service will be held at Phoenix Memorial Park & Mortuary in Phoenix, AZ Friday, December 7, 2007 at 10:00AM. Interment will be at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at 1:00PM in Phoenix, AZ.
41 responses to Dennis Wayne Smitch
Darren Miller says:
November 27, 2007
Dennis was a mentor and a dear friend to me. I will remember him not only for the wisdom and education he gave me when we worked together but also for the friendship he so easily gave. I hold the memories of the times I have spent with Dennis close to my heart whether it was us just us talking and drinking coffee on a cold morning before work, stealing red hots from his lunch box in his blade, talking about the day around his tailgate with a cold Corona from the ever present ice chest, or looking across the lane and seeing those amazing blue eyes and that infectous smile staring back at me as we rode all those miles together on our bikes.
You will be greatly missed in the time we are apart, Dennis, but I know that our time here on Earth is just a fleeting wisp of smoke. I look forward to seeing you again when you greet me on my arrival in heaven, but till then, I will have to settle on the fond memories I store in my mind and my heart. God Bless You my friend and brother!
Love,
Darren Miller
Frank Day says:
November 27, 2007
Donna and Justin; Very sorry for your loss of Dennis. my thoughts abd prayers are with you. Love, Frank Day
Mike & Cindy White says:
November 27, 2007
Donna,Justin & Family,
Dennis will be missed by us,not only as a co-worker,but as a dear friend.
Mike & Cindy White
Ron & Marilynn Miller says:
November 27, 2007
We Love you Donna and Justin. We will all miss Dennis.
Danny and Diane Robertson says:
November 28, 2007
Donna and Justin
Sorry to hear about Dennis.At least he was home with loved ones when he went home. We know what you are going thru right now as we just lost Dan’s Mother. Our prayers are with you. Diane