Dennis Paul Schreck

Dennis Paul Schreck, 66, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully at his Iowa home on April 11, 2023, surrounded by his loving, faithful wife, Jayne, family and Mercy Hospice caregivers.

Dennis loved Jesus.

Dennis was born in Keokuk Dec. 7, 1956, the second of seven children, to Shirley (Decker) Schreck Kerr and Paul Schreck. Paul later died of a brain tumor. C. Leon Kerr and Shirley married and loved raising the children. Dennis was a favorite child, and he knew it. Dennis was the older identical twin to Douglas.

Dennis attended the Catholic Church and served as altar boy. He participated in Holy Mass, church services, and the sacraments. He was a faithful Christian practicing God's teachings and adjusting to online services during COVID-19. He also attended New Covenant Church in Toddville, Iowa, and Stavanger Lutheran Church in Minnesota.

He graduated from Keokuk High School in 1976. He then attended a 5-year apprenticeship where he graduated a journeyman and was initiated on Nov. 18, 1988. He was a BTJ Steamfitter and served with the Local 125 Union after Local 562.

Throughout his life, he continued a disciplined hard work ethic. He was a determined provider for his family, making sure they had all that was needed for a healthy life. As a younger man, he loved the water and all the activities that went with it, swimming, water skiing, diving, fishing, noodling for catfish – the bigger, the better. He enjoyed hunting trips, road trips, family, going to Arkansas' Lake of the Ozarks, cutting trees. In all his work, he was a hard worker, meticulous in everything he did. He served others his good cooking-from-scratch foods. He was very proud of all the special, detailed work he did and proud to be a union worker.

In his social life, he was the social butterfly. His true friends and family knew him, loved him, and trusted him. He was very community-minded in politics and as a voter, took care of snow removal for neighbors, chain-sawed trees for the community without any reimbursement. Just another good deed. He was generous to all things military, animals, cancer research, no-kill shelters, sick children, human rights, supporting American Indians, nature, the Arbor Society.

He had a cultured, refined side as a published author of poetry, and his works have copyright status at the U.S. Library of Congress. He was consistently the consummate gentleman, opening doors for others and seating family in their chairs. He loved his Harley Davidson motorcycles and riding was the most freeing feeling he experienced when he rode. He once said, "I feel like I am free whenever I ride my motorcycle." The other most important art of his life was his son, Brad. Even though Dennis and Brad's mother divorced early, Brad was the pride and joy and reason for much of the happiness in Dennis' life.

He leaves many to celebrate his life, including his son Brad, wife Jayne and children Joey, Jeffrey and Jenny; siblings, cousins, nieces, aunts and uncles, as well as special friends whom he worked with at jobs, factories and manufacturing plants.

Dennis was preceded in death by his grandparents; numerous aunts and uncles; cousins; his father; and his twin brother.

Dennis' life will be celebrated with a funeral service at noon Monday, April 17 at DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home in Keokuk.

Visitation will be at DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home in Keokuk from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, directly before the service.