Dennis Hague

FLETCHER - Dennis "Denny" L. Hague, age 79, passed away on December 19, 2023, at his residence in Fletcher, Ohio.

He was born on December 19, 1944, in Piqua, Ohio to the late Chester L. and Hildred I. (Everett) Hague, also of Fletcher.

Denny was a member of Spring Creek Baptist Church and a graduate of Miami East High School, class of 1962.

It was many years prior to that commencement ceremony when he was bit by the competition bug and developed a tenacious drive to accel at whatever he did. A characteristic which would define so much of his time on this earth.

This lifelong passion for success began with showing beef cattle for eleven years in both 4H and FFA, where he achieved the highest honor of first place in lightweight angus in judging and showmanship. As an officer of the local FFA for two years as well as president of the Parliamentary Procedure team at the Ohio State competition, he helped to secure the gold for Miami East High School. Denny also held the office of president of the Brown Township 4H club for two years.

Once beyond high school, his competitive side shifted into high gear. Denny launched into several successful decades in the world of drag racing which included placing his name in the International Hot Rod Association record books not once, but three times with both speed and elapsed time records. Also, as a fifty-plus year member of the National Hot Rod Association, he made his mark at local and regional racing facilities and was well known for his '67 Novas each with their special "Six with Trix" proving "Six in a Row Can Go."

Entrepreneur would most certainly be a solid word to use when one thinks of Denny's lifetime accomplishments. He was also relentless in his quest to achieve victories during his time at the helm of several businesses. But it wouldn't be until later in life when his zeal for making things run better, his instinctive mastery of the naturally aspirated engine, combined with his childhood on the farm that gelled for what would be one of his most significant successes – "Denny's Carb Shop". A business that he was still running up to the time of his passing.

Denny was not only a master builder of carburetors and ignition systems for antique, show and pulling tractors, with a plethora of his customers attaining wins throughout the US and Canada but he also attained many of his own accolades with a handful of his personal antique pulling championship winning tractors that he had skillfully from remastered from the ground up. At one time, Denny even had a pulling sled and track at his place of business where National Antique Tractor Pullers Association competitions were held.

It wasn't just horsepower and torque on the ground that propelled Denny, but a long desire to take that fun to the skies. He was a lifetime member of the Upper Valley Fun Flyers of Piqua. In addition to many constructing and piloting a copious amount of different RC aircraft, he was quite proud to own the largest RC plane model available in the US. It was through this world of high-flying fun that he enjoyed so much where he met new friends including several that he dearly cherished and considered extended family.

Denny is survived by his two daughters, Kathy (Kevin) Fisher of Lima, Ohio and Missy (Joe) Brincefield of New Bremen, Ohio; a sister Sharon Echols of Sidney, Ohio; three grandsons along with other family and friends.

A small private service will be held for immediate family members with a celebration of life to be planned for later in the spring.

In memory of Dennis "Denny" L. Hague, memorial contributions can be made to Spring Creek Baptist Church located at 15333 E Miami Shelby Rd in Piqua, Ohio 45356, and/or Lena Baptist Church at 8050 N. Church St. Conover, Ohio 45317.

Services entrusted to Suber, Shively & VERNON funeral home, Fletcher, Ohio.