Hugh Stark Dennis
December 12, 1916 — August 31, 2008
Hugh Stark Dennis, of Eureka died on August 31, 2008 at Greenwood County Hospital at the age of 91.
Hugh was born on December 12, 1916 to William R. Dennis and Cordelia Stark Dennis. He was raised in Eureka and graduated from Eureka High School. He attended Wichita State where he met Betty Chesney. In 1939, they were married in Lawrence, KS. During World War II, he worked in the aircraft industry in support of the war effort. He and Betty returned to Eureka where he established his insurance and real estate business. He retired from his business in mid-1990.
Betty preceded Hugh in death in 1978. In 1979 he married Jane Shumway Dennis in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She preceded him in death in December, 2007.
Hugh was a man of many diversified interests which he approached with great passion. He was a longtime, devoted member of Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. He was a member of Fidelity Lodge 106 in Eureka, a Past Potentate of Midian Shrine where he also served as President of the Central States Shrine Association. He also served as Director of Court 76 of the Royal Order of Jesters. One of his proudest accomplishments was the establishment of Midian Shrine’s Plane of Mercy to transport injured children to Shriner’s hospitals for care.
Hugh started the local chapter of Duck’s Unlimited and later served in various capacities with the State and National organization including time as a Regional Vice President. He was instrumental in bringing harness horse racing back to Eureka and was elected as a Director of the United States Trotting Association. Hugh was very active in the Eureka business community for over 50 years and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the local Lion’s Club.
Hugh is survived by his son Michael Dennis and daughter-in-law Deanna of Paola, KS, daughter Dianne Keith and son-in-law Jerry of Shawnee, KS., grandsons Brett Dennis, Greg Dennis, and Glenn Parks, granddaughters Mary Beth McGrew, Aundrea Dennis, and Misty Keith, and seven great-grandsons. He is pre-deceased by three brothers and three sisters and grandson, Chris Keith.
Friends and family are invited to a visitation at Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 6-8 P.M. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, September 5, 2008 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. Interment will follow in Greenwood County Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Midian Shrine Plane of Mercy may be sent in care of the Koup Family Funeral home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS. 67045.
Hugh was born on December 12, 1916 to William R. Dennis and Cordelia Stark Dennis. He was raised in Eureka and graduated from Eureka High School. He attended Wichita State where he met Betty Chesney. In 1939, they were married in Lawrence, KS. During World War II, he worked in the aircraft industry in support of the war effort. He and Betty returned to Eureka where he established his insurance and real estate business. He retired from his business in mid-1990.
Betty preceded Hugh in death in 1978. In 1979 he married Jane Shumway Dennis in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. She preceded him in death in December, 2007.
Hugh was a man of many diversified interests which he approached with great passion. He was a longtime, devoted member of Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. He was a member of Fidelity Lodge 106 in Eureka, a Past Potentate of Midian Shrine where he also served as President of the Central States Shrine Association. He also served as Director of Court 76 of the Royal Order of Jesters. One of his proudest accomplishments was the establishment of Midian Shrine’s Plane of Mercy to transport injured children to Shriner’s hospitals for care.
Hugh started the local chapter of Duck’s Unlimited and later served in various capacities with the State and National organization including time as a Regional Vice President. He was instrumental in bringing harness horse racing back to Eureka and was elected as a Director of the United States Trotting Association. Hugh was very active in the Eureka business community for over 50 years and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the local Lion’s Club.
Hugh is survived by his son Michael Dennis and daughter-in-law Deanna of Paola, KS, daughter Dianne Keith and son-in-law Jerry of Shawnee, KS., grandsons Brett Dennis, Greg Dennis, and Glenn Parks, granddaughters Mary Beth McGrew, Aundrea Dennis, and Misty Keith, and seven great-grandsons. He is pre-deceased by three brothers and three sisters and grandson, Chris Keith.
Friends and family are invited to a visitation at Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 6-8 P.M. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, September 5, 2008 at the Christ Lutheran Church in Eureka. Interment will follow in Greenwood County Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Midian Shrine Plane of Mercy may be sent in care of the Koup Family Funeral home, P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS. 67045.
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