Rodney R. Dehnel

Rodney R. Dehnel, 68, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, after battling heart disease for over two years.

He was born on June 18, 1946, to Robert and Velma Dehnel formerly of Ritzville. He attended Ritzville schools and graduated in 1966. In his youth Rod enjoyed many sports and activities including scouting, basketball, baseball, bowling, gymnastics and swimming. He attended the Lutheran Church.

During his senior year he attended an aircraft-manufacturing program at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. Following graduation he was hired by Boeing and moved to Renton.

Rod was a Vietnam veteran; he was drafted in April 1967 by the Army and attended basic training at Fort Lewis in Tacoma. He was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco and Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia where he was an M.P. He spent most of his last year of service in Vietnam. He arrived home safely on Easter Sunday 1969. Rod was honorably discharged on April 6, 1969. He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

Rod returned to his job at Boeing. He met his future wife Sandy in 1972. The two were married in June 1977 and later divorced. He had a stepson, David.

Rod attended Green River Community College to study auto body repairs and detailing while he was working at Boeing. In 1989 he moved back to Ritzville where he worked at the Pastime for several years and then opened Rod’s Detail and Glass auto body shop where he worked until the building was sold.

Throughout his life Rod enjoyed spending time with his family and his many friends. Rod’s generosity and hospitality were widely known.

He loved to go fishing, camping and boating and was always ready to give a ride to the next person for waterskiing or tubing. He was also a great cook and made camp dining a real pleasure.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his nephew C.J Barker.

He is survived by his sister Val (Bob) Wiitala, brothers Randy of Ritzville and Donald of Seattle. He has one niece, three nephews, eight great nieces and nephews, one great-great niece and several cousins. He will forever be cherished and missed.

A memorial service will be held on Aug. 25 at Danekas Funeral Home in Ritzville at 2 p.m. There will be a reception at the Eagles Club at 3 p.m.

Donations in Rods honor can be sent to Teen Challenge, a recovery program, at 2400 North Craig Road, Spokane, WA 99224.