Dennis Anthony Carroll

1954 - 2021

Dennis Anthony Carroll

Dennis Anthony Carroll flew on the wings of angels to be with our Lord on December 21,2020. Heaven opened their gates to receive him. Dennis was born February 11, 1954 at the "Old" St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. Dennis had a great sense of humor and he loved to make people laugh. Heaven must be an even happier place now that he is there. Many who knew him, knew him as Denny or Gus.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Harlan and Mary, his brother Patrick, his sister Lena Colivas. He leaves behind his wife, Gwen Kjer (K-jer as he lovingly called her), his children Brice (Jess), Chris, Renee (Grant Diaz), Marisa Castro, and Elizabeth Carroll. His step-sons, although to him, they were his sons, Todd (Fanisha), Sam (Kendall), and Jake (Tawyna)Morris. Dennis loved children and his grandchildren were no exception, Mara, Hailey, Olivia, Sasha, Cecilia, Sophia and Isabella Carroll, Harlynn Diaz, Jeter and Jacob Morris and another grandson due in March. His brother, Kevin (Annette), sisters-in-law Helene Carroll, Jean (Charlie) Giannini, and brother-in-law, Ellis (Jenny) Kjer. Dennis' buddies who were his brothers from an other mother, Chuck (Carol) Harris, Tom (Nancy) Bessette, and Tony (Gloria) Hughes. Lastly, his sweet dog, Maggie Mae who misses him.
Dennis grew up in Eureka, attended Sacred Heart School, St. Bernard Elementary School, and graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1972. While attending high school, he participated in football, night league and wrestling.
In August of 1972, Dennis enlisted in the Air Force where he reached the rank of Master Sargent and he was part of the flight crew on C-5's in the 75th Military Airlift Squadron and the 21st "Bee Liners" Airlift Squadron. Dennis was very proud of his son, Chris who had designed the patch for the "Bee Liners." He left the Air Force briefly when his father was diagnosed with a terminal condition. During that time, Dennis enlisted in the National Guard, Company "A" of the 579th Combat Engineer Unit. He returned to the Air Force after his dad's death. Dennis so loved his time in the Air Force and the life long friends he made there. Dennis proudly served our country from 1972 to 1995 when he retired. He jokingly would say, "I've been to every continent, including Antarctica, all 50 states and I've been shot at in 8 languages."
After retiring from the military, he went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad/Southern Pacific Railroad where he thought he'd be working in the yard but instead they made him an locomotive engineer. He told them he had no experience and they told him where are you going to get it? In 1999, he accepted a job with Amtrak as a locomotive engineer and during his time there he also was a Road Foreman of engines. He retired in early 2020, when he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He would say he had the jobs that people dreamed of having. He regretted not being able to take that last trip up the mountain.
Dennis fought hard to put his Multiple Myeloma in remission and he succeeded in doing so, four months after his treatment started. He was so appreciative of his oncologist, Maj. Christin DeStefano, USAF 60th Medical Group, Travis AF Base. He also, thought fondly of his infusion nurse, Margo. Dennis was ready to get on with his life. He and Gwen were in the process of moving to Arizona and traveling in their new to them motor home. Dennis and Gwen traveled to Ireland for their honeymoon and found where his relatives would have paid their taxes to the lord and the castle that belonged to the other side of the family. They traveled to the east coast and walked some of the civil war grounds and had plans to return as Dennis was a civil war buff.
Dennis loved to hunt deer, pheasant and ducks with his buddies, Chuck Harris and Tom Bessette. Dennis had had plans to go squirrel hunting with his stepson Sam and pig hunting in Texas with his stepson Todd along with Chuck and Tom. He enjoyed going antique shopping and even just admiring them. He was in the process of restoring his 1950 Chevy pickup. He counted any time he had with his family, as the most precious. He loved when his children would come to visit and bring his grandchildren. Dennis was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Vacaville, Elk Lodge, 652 Eureka and the Marine Memorial, San Francisco.
To quote some: the party started when Denny walked in the room; and if Denny was there and you didn't have a good time, it was your own fault.
In honor of Dennis, raise a shot of Jameson or a glass of Guinness and light up a cigar.
In this time of COVID, a private family graveside will take place at the Veterans Cemetery in Dixon, CA under the direction of Daniels Chapel of the Roses, Santa Rosa, CA.