Dean Schwenke, 73, passed away Friday, August 5th in Tucson, AZ.  Following is an obituary written by Dean's daughter, Lori, and Dean's brother, our classmate, Gene.

It is with much sadness that Dean Allen Schwenke has ended his journey in life at the age of 72, on August 6, 2016 in Tucson, AZ, due to complications from a brain aneurysm.  A memorial service was held on September 17, at the Springs of Living Water Free Methodist Church.

Dean was born on October 3, 1943 in Lincoln, NE to Leo and Rose (Prothman) Schwenke.  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, AZ.  While in Nogales he began his employment with U.S. Customs in 1970 and returned to New York City for another intense training period with U.S. Customs.  Dean's career with U.S. Customs as an inspector continued in Nogales until 1974 when he and his family transferred to Turner, MT, where he became the Port Director until 1979.  Dean and his family transferred yet again to Bonners Ferry, ID, 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 always could be counted on to help 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 an old friend from Arizona, Elvia Acuna, whom he married in December 2009.  He then relocated to Oracle, AZ where he remained until his journey in life 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, ID); granddaughter, Quinn Plato; sister, Becky Wiese (Lincoln, NE); brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Jean Schwenke (Edmund, OK), Gene (identical twin) and Bonnie Schwenke (Oneida, WI), Bruce Schwenke (Lincon, NE); wife, Eliva Acuna-Schwenke, Oracle, AZ; 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 may be sent to the family at 184 Echo Dr., Bonners Ferry, ID 83805. 

"Here I am, doing what I love to do..."

Park Jr. High classmates gathered at our 50th Class Reunion. Gene uploaded this shortly after the reunion.

Click Here for more photos of Dean and classmates from Gene's reunion photo gallery.