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Dean Allen Schwenke |
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October 3, 1943 ~ August 6, 2016 |
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August 30, 2016 |
 Dean
Allen Schwenke ended his journey in life at the
age of 72, on August 6, 2016, in Tucson,
Arizona, due to complications from a brain
aneurysm. A memorial service will be held at 1
p.m. Saturday, September 17, at the Springs of
Living Water Free Methodist Church.
Dean was born on October 3, 1943, in Lincoln,
Nebraska, to Leo and Rose (Prothman) Schwenke.
In January, 1966, he married Diane Kaye
Ilkenhons and later that same year he graduated
from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Botany.
Immediately upon graduation from college, Dean
went to New York City for an intense training
period to prepare him for his first job with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture on the
U.S./Mexican border in Nogales, Arizona. While
in Nogales, he began his employment with U.S.
Customs in 1970 and returned to New York City
for another intense training period.
Dean’s career with U.S. Customs as an inspector
continued in Nogales until 1974, when he and his
family transferred to Turner, Montana, where he
became the port director until 1979. Dean and
his family transferred yet again to Bonners
Ferry, where he continued as an inspector at the
Porthill Port of Entry until 2004, when he
retired.
Living in Bonners Ferry provided Dean with his
favorite hobbies such as gardening, gathering
fire wood, fishing and huckleberry picking. It
was his love of fishing and being outdoors that
allowed Dean to spend a lot of time with his
granddaughter Quinn (once she was old enough to
sit still in the boat).
He truly enjoyed the changing of the seasons,
most of all the color change of the trees. Many
times he would state, “I truly live in God’s
country.” Retirement also provided Dean plenty
of time to be creative with his wood working
skills; many of the blue bird houses in Boundary
County were crafted by him and he was always
helping friends with anything they needed built.
Dean never met a stranger; almost instantly he
would become friends and often times would even
“offer the shirt off his back” to help anyone
out if they needed.
In the fall of 2008, Dean’s wife passed away. A
year later he was able to reconnect with and old
friend from Arizona, Elvia Acuna, whom he
married in December 2009. He then relocated to
Oracle, Arizona, where he remained until his
journey in life sadly came to an end.
Dean was an amazing father, grandfather,
brother, son, husband and friend!
Dean is survived by his daughter and son-in-law,
Lori and Owen Plato, Bonners Ferry,
granddaughter, Quinn Plato, sister Becky Wiese,
Lincoln, Nebraska, brothers and sisters-in-law
Bob and Jean Schwenke, Edmund, Oklahoma, his
identical twin, Gene, and Bonnie Schwenke,
Oneida, Wisconsin, Bruce Schwenke, Lincoln,
Nebraska, wife, Eliva Acuna-Schwenke, Oracle,
Arizona one step daughter and step son; one
niece and six nephews; two step granddaughters
and six step grandsons, and numerous friends
that he made in Idaho and Arizona.
Dean is preceded in death by his father and
mother, Leo and Rose Schwenke, and wife Diane
Schwenke.
Memorials can be sent to the family at 184 Echo
Drive, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. |
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