Dennis Sherman Bolz

1947 - 2025

Dennis Sherman Bolz
September 2, 1947 - February 27, 2025
With Dennis Bolz's passing, the world lost a dedicated husband, father, son, teacher, coach mentor, community advocate and more importantly a larger-than-life force of nature for good.
Dennis was born and raised in southern Oregon on September 2, 1947, to parents, Ernest and Lorraine Bolz. Dennis was an inquisitive child, yet academics did not come easily, and he graduated from Phoenix (OR) High School in 1965, as a multi-sport athlete and state FFA participant.
Inspired by many of his childhood teachers and coaches, Dennis graduated from the University of Laverne (where he also obtained his master's degree later) in four short years. He met and married his lifetime love, turned caregiver in his later years, Joycelyn (Wilhelm) Bolz, had his oldest son Erich and began his teaching career in 1969.
Dennis, Joycelyn, Erich, and son number two Brian, moved to Wenatchee in 1971. Son number three, Mark was born in Wenatchee that same year. Dennis began teaching in the Wenatchee School District and Wenatchee became his adopted hometown. He served the school district with distinction for twenty years later parlaying his love of service into a 16-year run as a Commissioner with Chelan County PUD.
Possessing a legendary work ethic, Dennis worked second jobs in retail, concrete finishing, and taking a key role in running a co-op orchard, just to name a few things that enabled him to provide for his family at a level well above what public school teachers were earning during his nearly twenty years in the classroom.
Dennis's accolades in education were numerous, serving as an educational consultant on several key topics, including among other things, an opportunity to share the power of American education in the Soviet Union shortly before its collapse.
One of Dennis's proudest lasting achievements was founding Westside High School during his tenure at Wenatchee School District, enabling several thousand students to graduate from high school and pursue meaningful, contributory lives, whereas they otherwise may not have had that critical second chance. Dennis's personal ethics and his sense of service, influenced by growing up in the Brethren faith, set a course of deep caring for those voiceless, and otherwise marginalized throughout his distinguished life.
His diversity of experience in public education, serving Azusa (CA), Wenatchee, Wilbur, Ocean Beach, and Fife school districts as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, athletic director, and superintendent, led to an opportunity to work for a Texas-based educational consultancy where he traveled the country teaching the benefits of strong relationships between teachers and students before doing so became a buzz word.
One of many of his positive characteristics was Dennis's ability to spot emerging practices before they became trends, coupled with a tireless work ethic were the hallmarks of his deep impacts, and led to opportunities too numerous to capture in a single, simple tribute.
While Dennis's awards and honors were many, his second professional chapter included serving as the President of the Washington State Public Utility Association and receiving a lifetime achievement award for his advocacy of public power, his proudest legacy was his family.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Joycelyn, of 58 years; his sons, Erich, Brian, and Mark; their spouses, Shelly, Jennifer, and Laura; and perhaps his proudest legacy of all, his grandchildren, Jackson, Chloe, Emma, Dylan, and Sophie Bolz. Dennis is also survived by his sister, Ida Marie Callison. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Lorraine; Lorraine's husband, Gene Foresee; and his brother, Ernest (Ernie).
One of Dennis's favorite sayings, and boy could he talk was, "find a need and fill it." He was a tireless advocate for folks on the margins, sometimes costing him professional promotions, and his legacy of service lives on through his sons who served our country as an educator, law enforcement professional and in the U. S. Marine Corps respectively. Dennis lived a lifetime of doing the right thing, even when it was not personally expedient.
He influenced countless others to pursue paths of service and was an incredible friend to many. His outgoing nature led to a huge international network, and Dennis prided himself in being surrounded by great thinkers and influencers his whole lifetime.
Dennis was an irrepressible phenomena, and the true embodiment of a peaceful warrior. He lived a beautiful, deeply contributory, and rewarding life. He will be deeply missed, as the world needs more Dennis Bolzs now more than ever.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Dennis's memory to Community Foundation of North Central Washington Partners in Giving https://cfncw.org/pig/ or to Confluence Health Home Care and Hospice.
Please join us for a celebration of Dennis's life on Saturday, March 15th at noon in the LocalTel event center at the Pybus Market, 3 North Worthen Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801.