Dennis E. Shiflet Sr.

Dennis Edward Shiflet, Sr. of Charleroi, PA, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by immediate family on February 6, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. Dennis was born March 7, 1953 to Ruth and Walt Metz and Edward Shiflet. He married the love of his life Wendy L. Shiflet (Druga) on September 20, 1975 and welcomed two children, one in 1983 and the other in 1985.
Dennis was a dedicated husband and father who always placed family first. He never met a stranger and would happily dive into long discussions with anyone he met. His love of chatting, laughing, and sharing stories meant he touched many lives. All who met him loved his warm, welcoming, and kind nature. Almost often referred to as "Big Den" given his 6 – foot tall presence and booming voice, he could appear intimidating but his warm nature quickly turned him into a gentle giant. His quick wit, deep sense of sarcasm, and jovial nature defined him.
Dennis was a trained electrician but also spent years selling insurance further refining his social skills. For many years he was a dedicated employee at Alstom and GE. Everyone knew him or knew of him. He was a hard worker who often told his children "love may make the world go around, but money greases the axle" as his fatherly way of portraying the importance of hard work.
Big Den had a love for being outdoors. He was often found tending his garden, helping farm friends with their fields, fishing, hunting, or sitting around a camp fire chatting with friends. He was the ultimate "tinkerer". He loved to challenge himself through tinkering. He would rebuild equipment and appliances, build beautiful carpentry pieces, or work on vehicles. He took pride in his work and it showed in the quality of the pieces he crafted. He was not shy to adventure. Many times throughout his life he would pack up the family and just hit the road with no real destination in mind. The family would drive until sundown, stay at a hotel, get up the next morning and just continue the journey to nowhere enjoying whatever attractions were along the way. This is even more striking considering there were no cell phones at that time.
Dennis is survived by his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter Lindsey, Brian, and Lena Zarecky; son and daughter-in-law Dennis Jr. and Shannon Shiflet, brother and sister-in-law Tom and Ann Shiflet; niece Teresa Gamble; sister-in-law and husband Linda and Bob Feathers; nephew and wife Mike and Megan Feathers; brother-in-law and wife Andrew Druga and Shari McCullough; and loving friends Don and Rose Keefer. He is preceded in death by wife Wendy L. Shiflet (Druga) and parents Ruth Metz (Ermlick) and Edward Shiflet.
The family will hold a celebration of life and spreading of ashes at a yet-to-be-determined date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ferguson Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc 700 Broad Avenue Belle Vernon, 724-929-5300. www.FergusonFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.