David L. Dennis, 49

David, son of Bill and Lynn Dennis, of Hayden, passed peacefully into eternal rest Saturday evening, May 25, 2012, after an eight-month battle with cancer.

He will be missed by family and friends whose lives he touched with his personable, compassionate and caring personality. They all knew that the warmth of David’s friendship and the sincerity of his loyalty was an uncommon and uncompromised part of his staunch character. He never had an enemy.

He was a dedicated, doting and devoted father to his daughters, Jadyn, 13, Catlin, 21, and Nicole who passed away from cancer in 2001. He was a son who treated his parents with great respect and love from the time he was very young… even through his teenage years and into adulthood. We will all remember his handsome face, twinkling eyes and huge smile.

Second to his family and friends, his greatest love was being on the ocean working as an outstandingly skillful and strong commercial fisherman for 28 years. He was known by his many fishing buddies as “Big Wave Dave.” He referred to each of them with the prefix… soldier (first name).

Recently a memorial was held for David in Kodiak, Alaska. He was honored as an outstanding fisherman and friend who was a generous and caring man, who valued honesty and integrity above all else and was deeply connected to the beauty of nature. As a strong and faithful Christian he often spoke of experiencing the Holy Spirit while enjoying the views of Alaskan waters from his fishing boats.

Growing up, his life was full of fun activities with family and friends: snow and water skiing, dirt bike riding, duck hunting, swimming and boating at his grandparents’ lake cabin, camping, fishing, bike riding and much more.

David attended Coeur d’Alene High School and the University of Idaho prior to working in Alaska.

He was born to Bill and Eva Dennis in 1963 in Coeur d’Alene. Since that time he has lost many loved ones including his biological mother, Eva Dennis, in 1971; his daughter, Nicole Dennis in 2001 and his brother, Mark Dennis in 2002.

He is survived by his parents, Bill and Lynn Dennis; wife Lysa and daughters, Jadyn and Catlin; as well as many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Lovely memorials were held in Anchorage, Homer and Kodiak, Alaska.

Donations may be sent to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835, in David’s name.