Obituary of Dennis Gene Donnenwirth
Dennis Gene Donnenwirth (76) resident of Rose Lake, ID died April 10, 2018 in Coeur d’ Alene, ID. He was born March 14, 1942 to Charles and Bessie (Riley) Donnenwirth in Lemmon, S.D.
His father’s employment with the Milwaukee Railroad brought the family to Avery, ID where he attended school thru the 8th grade. When he was twelve years old, Dennis started delivering fuel for Wally Moore to the Red Ives Ranger Station. Dennis went to work for Yohan Nodic as a Sawyer and then a Hooker in the woods. He also worked as a Packer and Guide in Avery. Dennis later bought his own CAT which took him to Sverdsten Logging. He drove Lowboy for them for 16 years.
Dennis met Marjorie Mauro and after dating, they were married Dec. 30, 1961 in Coeur d’ Alene. They lived in St. Maries before making their home in Rose Lake, ID. In 1980 Dennis started his own log trucking company operating 3 trucks under the name Dennis Donnenwirth Trucking.
Dennis enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting. He especially enjoyed being with his family, and loved spoiling his grandchildren. Dennis was a jokester and loved giving people a hard time pulling off many practical jokes. Before Marjorie died in 2010, the couple enjoyed many trips traveling to South Dakota.
Dennis is survived by his daughter Cindy (Ron) O’Reilly of Cataldo, ID and sons Chuck (Bobbie) Donnenwirth of Kellogg, ID and Tony (Amber) Donnenwirth of Rose Lake, ID.
Also surviving are his brother Don (Pam) Donnenwirth of Rathdrum, ID; sister in-law Mary Turner and sister-in-law Ness Mauro both of St. Maries, ID; 9 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Marjorie Donnenwirth; son Gene Donnenwirth; sisters Shirley Donnenwirth, Betty Ann Jones, and Iris Babb.
Viewing will be Friday April 20, 2018 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am with funeral services being held at 11:00 am at Hodge Funeral Home in St. Maries, ID. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. A Potluck gathering of family and friends will follow at the St. Maries Eagles Lodge.
