Dennis A. Wilson, 80

Dennis and his twin brother, Donald, were born in 1943 to parents Ethel and Norman Wilson in Corpus Christi, Texas. Soon after, the family moved to Arizona where Dennis grew up. The family lived in several small Arizona towns during his childhood. Dennis was a Boy Scout and, in later years, was student body president at what became Northern Arizona University during his tenure. When he graduated he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked for a number of companies as Human Resources Manager for almost 40 years. He was a devoted airplane fanatic in his free time and was very involved in Republican politics in his early years.

Dennis met his wife, Kathie, of 50 years in Concord, Calif. They raised and showed Irish Setters for most of their working lives, and Dennis was president of the local Irish Setter Club of the Pacific for many years. They were still devoted to the breed in retirement when they moved to Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho. Dennis became a volunteer for several groups in retirement, most notably Camp Fire Inland Northwest Council, the Experimental Aircraft Association and MedStar. He was president of the Benpointe Road Association for several terms and an election worker for almost 20 years. He was always happy to do whatever he could to make an organization more successful. He spent many hours getting donations, manning information booths, and volunteering whenever and wherever he could.

Dennis was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about 15 years ago and, in recent years, was lucky to have been cared for by Hospice of North Idaho, the Area Agency on Aging and the Bennett House (now Onsite). He was an active member of the local Parkinson’s Support group in Coeur d’Alene until recently.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Kathie, several nieces and nephews and their spouses and children, his parents, his brother, Donald A. Wilson of Thatcher, Ariz., and sister Norma Ann Reinier of Mountain Home, Idaho, all preceded him.

Memorial donations may be given to: Camp Fire Inland Northwest, 1014 N. Pines Road Suite 110, Spokane Valley, WA 99206, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz., or Hospice of North Idaho 2290 W. Prairie Ave. Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815