Herbert Sidney Dennis

1941 - 2021

Herbert Sidney Dennis

Bremerton - Herbert "Herb" Sidney Dennis passed into the loving arms of our Lord on 23 February 2021 after a long struggle with heart disease and lung cancer. He was 80 years old. Herb was born in Portland Oregon on 1 January 1941 to Lewis Weitman Dennis and Evelyn (Sally) Prisilla (Garber) Dennis. Herb is preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Jim and Dave Dennis. He is survived by his sister Pat and her husband Jim Bohannon. Herb spent his early years growing up on the family farm near Molalla Oregon outside of Portland. He graduated from Molalla High School in 1959

Herb joined the Army in June of 1959 and rose to the rank of E4 while serving in Korea. He served in Korea for one year. His skills in all things mechanical helped and were honed by being the supervisor of the motor pool. Herb kept the equipment up and running during some of the most brutal winter conditions one can imagine. His ingenuity a "farm sense" were applied and passed onto his crew. Herb was honorably discharged in 1962 and came back to Salem Oregon and worked in a local speed shop. He visited the Bremerton area off and on and moved to Bremerton permanently in January of 1963.

Herb met Barbara Campbell at a Square dance in May of 1965, and the two became quick friends and dated until their marriage in September of 1967 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Bremerton. After renting a few houses, they bought their first home on Roswell Drive in East Bremerton in June of 1970. This became their lifelong residence. Herb and Barbara joined the Sashay Square Dance club, where both were highly active and held many offices in the club. They were a graceful pair to watch dance and could perform the most difficult moves such as the two step and the waltz with ease.

Herb started work at Sears in 1964, first as a salesman and then in the auto department. Again, his knowledge of mechanical things he had accumulated on the farm and in the Army, were well suited for this. Later, he transferred to the Sears appliance repair division and rose to supervisor of the Sears appliance repair for Kitsap, Mason, and Jefferson counties. Herb retired from Sears in 1996.

Herb joined the Elks Lodge 1181 in the 60's but was somewhat inactive until 1980. His personable demeanor and his leadership skills allowed him to rise through the chairs and become the Exalted Ruler in April of 1983. After his tenure as the Exalted Ruler expired, he ran and became the president of the Washington State Elks association in 2003 and remained there until 2004. Herb was a fair and firm leader and had a profound affect on the financial status of the many Washington lodges and upon his exit, the Elks Lodges were in good financial status.

Herb had an undeniable physical presence. His strength was not born in a gym, but from long hard days on a farm. His arm strength was impressive, and he could lift and move objects that lesser men would not consider. He possessed a magnetic personality that easily transitioned into leadership rolls. This was fostered by an honesty that people instantly perceived. His handshake was his bond, and his word was golden. What he said he would do, he did. No questions asked.

Herb was an accomplished handy man. He could do anything that was required in home and automobile maintenance. His years as a Sears Technician saved our family a lot of bucks. He would field strip your washer or dryer so fast it was scary. Boom, a couple low-cost parts and back in business! Many a customer would cringe when he dove into a gas oven with a lit cigarette, but he never blew one up! House wiring, plumbing, and woodworking were all performed and finished by Herb which also saved his family tons of money. But best of all was that all you had to do was call and Herb was right there to help. He would drop anything to help his family and friends.

Many people did not know of Herb's love of cooking. Herb loved traditional and barbeque cuisine and the "zestier" the better. Herb loved the Elk's Salmon cookouts and was the main man on the pit. He designed and created the Elk's wood fired salmon pit. The Salmon was done in a traditional North West native way over an alder fire. Whenever the Elk's did a cookout, be it burgers, salmon, or tri-tips, Herb was the pit master. At home Herb used a wood pellet grill and real wood on a smoker. He made some of his own sauces and rubs and was experimenting all the time. He hooked his little brother Rob on the art of cooking on the "barbie". In the kitchen he was famous for his Thanksgiving Oyster Dressing and homemade cranberry sauce. Yes, these were also zesty! His legacy of cooking lives on in his little brother. Herb lived life to the fullest when it came to food!!

Herb was a true "hotrodder" from the 50's! Back then you had to fabricate and build your cars. He spent many a day at the Portland Woodburn racetrack with cars that had engine swaps from other makes and models. This was back in the day of a Hemi or a Cadillac engine in the smallest thing you could find. Herb's youth of accomplishments turned him into a master car builder. Herb was able to "compartmentalize" his efforts. He would set a goal for one area during the day and finish it. But not just finish it, Herb was a perfectionist! The quality of his work was second to none. His only downfall was his over-the-top love for chrome!! Shiny was better! He, like many, loved the build as much as the driving. He went through quite a few cars in his life, but his pride and joy was his 1966 Maroon Pontiac GTO. He loved its white interior and the 389 with tri-power was a hoot to drive.

Herb was a born racer as a driver. Cars were meant to go fast and corner. Just follow him one time with his 1972 Ford ¾ Ton Truck with 30 feet of travel trailer behind it. Slow lane, Not Herb!! He wheeled that combination around at speeds that would make a mere mortal cringe! We fondly remember Herb and Barb on the old Portland I5 bridge doing 75 in the skinny fast lane with the truck and trailer! Holly cow that was scary and possibly took a few years off his wife's life! Herb had one speed in his cars. Fast! Let him drive your car and he would push it to the limits immediately. Terry Campbell can tell you what happened the first time Herb drove Terry's Supercharged Thunderbird! Yup, the boost gauge and tach were buried on the first or second shift!! You would think that all of this would lead to accidents. Herb never was in a wreck of any significance. A testament to his driving skills.

Herb is, and will be, sorely missed. His life's journey was large and varied. During his long struggle with health difficulties, he never slowed down nor ever complained. He just kept busy and pushing forward. It is not a stretch to say that his legacy was larger than life. They say everyone is replaceable, but Herb has left a huge hole for his family and friends that will now be replaced with loving memories of the man he was. Many families would call him a brother-in-law, he was our brother!!!!

Please join us at the East Bremerton Elks 1181 on June 5th 2021 at 1:00 p.m. for a celebration of Herb's life.