William Francis Dehnert
August 3, 1954 - February 23, 2008
Obituary
William ‘Bill’ Francis Dehnert, age 53, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family, Saturday, February 23, 2008 following a brief battle with cancer. Bill was a loving and generous husband, father, son, friend, and teacher, well known for his fun-loving and adventurous spirit. His positive attitude drew people to him and his constant smile was contagious. Bill inspired many to live life to the fullest and to become the best person they could be.
Bill is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gail; mother, Anastasia; daughters, Kirsten and Jana Dehnert; brothers, Chuck, Mike, Ron, Jerry, Jim, and Marty Dehnert; sister, Kim Cleary and numerous nieces and nephews. His father, Raymond and his brother, Don, preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 1st, 2008, at 11:00 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 25810 156th SE, Covington, WA. Donations in Bill’s honor may be made to the Federal Way Relay for Life team ‘Wild Bill’s Buckaroos’ for the American Cancer Society.
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeGreatWestDivision?pg=personal&fr_id=5629&fr_id=5629&px=4602439
I was one of the many nieces that Bill had. To me he was the best uncle that i can remember!!! Always fun to be around and always get people in a good mood. I remember as a child always playing with him. You will be greatly missed and always remember as the fun loving uncle!!!! Prayers go out to Gail, Kirsten, and Jana!!! Love Teresa Singleton
Mr. Dehnert was my French teacher at Evergreen HS in the late 1980s and I babysat his kids a couple times. I loved his class and thought the world of him as a teacher. He was enthusiastic and encouraging in a very special way. I only regret that I’ve been out of touch with him and wasn’t able to tell him all these years later how highly I thought of him. I will tell him in heaven! My condolences go out to his wife and daughters and all the others who will be missing him.
All of us from the class of 1972 at Kent-Meridian High School
remember Bill as such a sweet fun guy. Like my father and so
many other really good people, Bill was taken from us way too
soon. My best wishes to Bill’s wife and daughters. Your grief
will fade over time and be replaced with fond memories of your
time with Bill.
As so many have said, Bill was a very lovable person.
I believe loving someone is a decision. Some people
make the decision to love them a very difficult one.
Bill, by the way he lived, made the decision to love him
very easy. Let’s all try to live our lives so that we are
as “easy to love” as Bill.
Dear Gail, Kirsten, Jana and the extended Dehnert clan:
I just talked to Chuck and learned of Bode’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you.
Bill was wonderfully unique and an exceptional man. I watched him always be a very special brother to his Dehnert siblings. I loved his positive outlook, his warmth and his obvious zest for life. He will be missed by many, but those of us who had our lives touched by Bill will remember and be glad our pathes crossed.
Bill was someone who loved people and loved life. I was certainly blessed to know him at KM. I remember him as always having a smile not just on his face but in his heart. Bill was fun loving and a joy to be around. He was honest, genuine and sincere — a true friend to those who knew him. I will miss him. My condolences to his family.
We’ve lost an amazing life-force in Bill. I had the great pleasure of working next-door to Bill for a number of years. You could always count on him to have a positive outlook and kind word. We shared a love of music and performed on the same stage in “Kilo Cafe” fundraisers. There are still some tunes that make me think of Bill and his brothers when I hear them!
To the Denhert family, God bless and know that you are in our prayers.
Although Bill was a Kilo Cougar at heart, TJHS Raiders count themselves among the fortunate to have worked with and been taught by him. Thomas Jefferson wrote that he knew of “no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.†Rest in peace Bill Dehnert. Thank you for being passionate about teaching and learning. During this election year and beyond your legacy will be seen in the enlightened and educated lives lived by your family, friends, colleagues and former students.
I, too, knew Bill from kindergarten through our graduation. Yes, he truely was a wonderful human being. Kind, honest, and lived with a smile on his face and knew how to have fun.God blessed us with someone to show us how we all should be in life.
My thoughts and prayers go out to those in his family, especially Gail and the girls. He will always be in your heart and smiling down on you.
Grandma always knew to keep the cookie jar well supplied upon your arrival. When you came into our family it was like having another brother/son that we all connected with and like your teaching you always pushed us to enjoy the experience of life. No doubt in our minds you were the best brother inlaw/son inlaw we could of asked for. Watch over us Mr Bill.
Edith, Damon, Greg & Val
Dearest Gail, Kirsten & Jana….We are in absolute shock with the passing of Bill. Even though it has been some time since we have seen you or spent time with you, we have all the GREAT memories of the times the girls spent together and all the time spent at activities at “Children’s World of Music”. There was a void in our life when you guys left Vanc. Bill was always so proud of his girls and such a hugh part of their lives. No matter what the situation he was always very upbeat and had a smile on his face. I know that he will be greatly missed…let the memories live on!!!!!! Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Dianne, Gary, Courtney, Erin & Kaylee Aalseth
Don & Jan Mayfield
Bill was very kind, a loving man who was truly genuine. Though I did not know him as well as others, I am proud to be his cousin. I feel blessed to have had him touch my life.
It is interesting reading the comments on this page about my old friend Bill. They describe him exactly how I remember him all the way through school. We did a lot of bench sitting together on various sports teams. He was a great friend and I’m sure a great husband, father and teacher. I have no doubt he will be accepted with open arms into the gates of Heaven.
Rest in peace old friend.
Dear Gail & Family,
Since I can not be their I am sending you all my love and prayers for you and your family. I know the hurt and sorrow you must be feeling, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Your Cousin, Rita
I was lucky enough to have Mr. Dehnert as a teacher/mentor. I was the third one in my family to have him as a teacher, and I learned a great deal from him. He did not only teach us based on school standards, but he taught us how to survive in the real world. He will be missed from many of us. He is now watching over us and we will all see him again!
Kirsten and Family,
I am shocked to hear of your tragedy. I grieve with you and for you. I knew he was a good guy the minute I met him. I can certainly understand your grief and how much you will miss him. Thank God he didn’t suffer for very long. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy and know my prayers and thoughts are with you. Kirsten, PLEASE CALL ME when you get back to PA.
My love to all, Yvonne Noonan
Dear Gail & family – Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all at this time. You will always have Bill with you in your hearts and minds. Love ya, Neddie & Nigel
My wife and I are so sorry to hear the passing of Bill. We both went to school with The Dehnert boys, what a great family.We share your pain,and it was an honor to have known and laughted with Bill and Don. Ron and Debby Juergens
Bill treated me with kindness, respect, and interest — making me feel like more than simply one among many cousins.
When I think back on our high school days, the joy Bill brought to each day is one of the cherished memories. I am sorry to hear of this loss.
So sorry to hear about Bill We all loved him… like we do all the Dehnerts
You are all in our prayers!!!
Mr.Dehnert,
I will miss you as my French teacher at TJ. I always looked forward coming to your class and learning French. I really enjoyed listening to you play your guitar or watching you play with the foam animals when we learned the different animal names in French. You always had this great uplifting spirit that put a smile on everyones faces. You were never negative and you could make every situation be positive. You were about living life as there were no tomorrow. I will definately use that philosophy in my life. Me and our whole class will miss you dearly and we will never forget about you. Thank you for all the hard work you have done for us…we will carry it on and expand our knowledge of French for you!
Ps. I will miss singing the Christmas carols…you always made those fun to sing =
P.s.s. Also thank you for helping me in the mornings with the extra help when I didn’t understand things.
with love, Vanessa Bennum
I can still see Bode’s sweet, goofy smile as he walked down the halls of KM. I remember our time in Saturday morning CCD classes and Mrs. Rezelda Bryer’s typing I class. I remember him, all smiles, walking into the restaurant for the junior high Letterman’s Banquet, wearing his white shirt and skinny black tie. I remember how MANY friends he had. I hope right now all his family remembers is love.
36+ years ago we walked the same halls, laughed over the same silly high school jokes and pranks and shared the belief that we could accomplish anything we set our mind to as we celebrated our graduation into the ‘real world’. I don’t remember alot of specifics, but I do know that the mention of certain people’s name bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Those are memories that get you through the unexpected challanges and trevails of life. Most of us never know how one life effects the other, how small gestures and kind words become a part of your ability to maike your world a better place. On some level Bill knew that, and for so many his presence in their lives made a difference, a difference that results from being touched by a life well lived. Thank you Bill. May God continue to bless your family and friends. May you continue to live through their memories of you and the life you led.
Bill and I were classmates all the way through graduation. We were good friends and I have a lot of wonderful memories of him–all good and a few wild ones. I can’t wait to get to heaven cuz he has a few paybacks coming! The memories are just like everyone else has written here. Fun loving, inspirational, a good friend and never a bad thing to say about him. Just a wonderful human being.
A great team mate in sports. Always, always cheering his team on. He supported everyone. He never gave up. And I am sure that is how he lived his life.
God bless his family, our thoughts and prayers go out to you.
Heaven better be ready for him because his spirit and passions will go with him forever. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Phil and Trudy Barber Rooney
Gail, Kirsten and Jana,
I am so sorry about the sudden illness and death of your husband/dad. I just love the picture of Bill in his Lafayette hat! I will always remember being with you guys in the President’s Garden, when Kirsten’s professor came up to greet you. I always admired you both for allowing your daughter to go so far away to college. It said a lot about both of you and Kirsten thrived at Lafayette.
I am so sorry about your terrible loss. Please know that loving thoughts are coming to you from your Lafayette College community.
Joan
Bill, you honestly never had a bad day–or certainly never let on. We could always count on treats at meetings, even though we all knew we shouldn’t, traveling carollers at Christmas time, a joke or story at our morning gatherings in the staff room, and unexpected surprises to lift spirits at just the right time. Rest in peace, dear friend. Our love.
EEEEEE HAAAAAAA !!!
Heaven just got a bit louder. Bill always the EEEEE HAAAAAA !!! man. Whether he was sking, floating the mighty Yakima or playing ball all things in his life have been a celebration.
Love you. God Bless Your Family
I will always remember Bill as a very fun loving person with a real zest for life. He made the most out of what he had at that particular moment and did the best with it. His wit, humor and fun always added life to the party. He never had much luck teaching us to sing as good as he could, but maybe we just didn’t try hard enough. We will always be with you Uncle Bill. May the Lord enjoy your presence as much as we have. Love ya Bode. Uncle Jack
Mr. Dehnert was always a kind hearted soul. He gave all the his students the ability to see their future, to be enlighted by their future. He will be missed dearly.
Bill was always such a nice, kind man. Always cheerful and upbeat…even when he was feeling lousy, never a complaint. He was the kind of person who would pop his head in my office and thank me for doing a good job…just out of nowhere. Such a gentle spirit who loved life and his family. God blessed his family by giving them a wonderful husband, father, son and brother. God bless them all.
I love you, and we will miss you forever.
Mr. Dehnert was always such a lively man. He was so full of spirit and always had such a great passion when he taught. I had him in 7th grade as a teacher for an Intro to Foreign languages course. He always made sure class was interesting for everyone and came up with the most creative ways of teaching. I know he is a teacher who will be missed by all who had the pleasure of being taught by him.
One of my first memories of Bill was as I was pulling my school bus into the bus loop at Kilo. Wearing a sombrero and playing guitar, this man had on the biggest grin I have EVER seen, as he welcomed arriving students. His warmth and sincerity was genuine, but it was his joy that touched me…he appreciated every moment, every experience, as fully as possible. It was a privilege to know him, and my thoughts are with his family.
I send my sympathy to your family. What really makes the standout is how he was so thoughtful to the custodial staff at Thomas Jefferson we will miss him deeply. I’m very thankful to work with him and known him over these years.
God finds such pleasure in Bill as a son. He touched my life with his love and kindness. We are all blessed to have known him.
Bill was a wonderful person and will be missed. My heart goes out to all the family and friends that Bill has left behind. Bill, may you teach the angels to sing.
We will keep Bill in our thoughts and prayers. The memories of Bill as a man who enjoyed life and shared his bright outlook with people that he came in contact with. Now he brightens the heavens.
Bill was such a kind man always hooking me up with creamer for my coffee and the occasional Friday doughnut. We enjoyed his French class singing songs at Christmas cruising through the counseling office. He will be missed:
Dear Gail, Kirsten and Jana, and family-
Our TJ family sends you loving thoughts and prayers during this challenging time. Bill was so proud of all of you and loved to share the family memories and experiences with us at school. We are all blessed to have known such a wonderful warm, caring, and loving gentleman. TJ lost a very passionate teacher who truly touched the lives of those who were lucky enough to be in his presence.
Here’s to you, Bill… We’ll catch up to you on the ski slopes in the sky!
We love you!! You will be truly missed!!
Thank you for all the little moments over the years. You were truly a role model for me, not just as a teacher but also in soul and mind and for that I am extremely grateful to have known you. I’ll never forget your spirit and love of life.
You have my deepest symapthy and you are in my thoughts and prayers during your bereavement.
Bill was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. I will miss his laughter and sharing doughnuts. I enjoyed working with Bill at TJHS. My heart goes out to the family.
Linda Hummel
Bills friendship will be sorely missed by his colleagues of “first lunch bunch” at Tj. My favorite memories of him are all the Fridays when he would bring his guitar and serenade his fellow teachers with all kinds of witty and funny songs.
I also appreciated the “Dehnert Diet”: eat less, move more–and have put that to use! He had a way of keeping life simple and upbeat!
May God comfort you in this time of loss.
I am honored to have had Bill as a friend. He is a man who had his priorities correct – family first. He has inspired me to do all I can to support my daughter Kelsey in college. I will miss him tremendously.
Gail and girls,
I worked with Bill at the TJ basketball games a couple of years ago and also knew him from Kilo, where both my daughters went to Jr. High. Bill was such a wonderful, caring person and I enjoyed our chats during the games very much. I will always remember his wonderful attitude on life and how he always smiled and laughed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time.
I was honored to have Bill as a teacher for three years at Kilo Jr High. His ability to strike up classroom discussion was amazing, always challenging you to think outside of the box. His family, friends, and the community will miss him dearly.
Bill was a rare individual who could light up a room with his warm and cheerful personality. Whenever I’d see him in the hallways at school, I could always count on him having a smile and a hello, even after he became aware of his illness. His courage and strength was inspiring to us all.
Bill’s presence will be very much missed as a regular at the lunch table. His conversation was always lively and straightforward, with wonderful commentaries on life. I wish we all could learn to be a little more like Bill; so honest, gentle and easy going. Bill had a great outlook on life and knew how to enjoy life to it’s fullest. I’m sure he is now in a much better place. My heart and prayers go out to those who will miss him the most; Bill’s wife, daughters, and close friends.
I just learned of the passing of Bill within the last 24 hours. I am
so glad I got to see him alive on our last trip. I hope to be at the remembrance.
We have lost a warm and loving person who tried to make a difference everyday. Bill was an amazing person who will be missed at TJHS.
Gail, I have to tell you one of my fondest memories of Bill and you is at TJ’s “End of the Year” party last year — you and Bill just danced and danced and danced. You never stopped! I remember watching you both having so much fun. It is a memory for me that still puts a smile on my face.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Gail, Kirsten and Jana,
Mac and I were so sad to hear of Bills death. In the many years that we were neighbors, he always had a smile and a kind word to say about everyone. A truly kind and thoughtful man.
We have fond memories of our annual garage sale and block party.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.