Orville Duane Dennis, 85, died June 17, 2023, at his home in Hutchinson. He was born May 16, 1938, in a farm house in Clay County, Hayes Township KS, to Frank Hudson and Viola Marie (Marsh) Dennis.
Orville attended a little one room school for a year and a half, then he transferred to Green Grade School until graduating from 8th grade. Later on, while serving in the military, Orville earned his GED and an associates’ degree in law enforcement.
At the young age of 17, Orville enlisted in the United States Army, on January 11, 1956. He was an infantry soldier for almost four years. He changed to artillery in 1959 while stationed in Berlin, Germany. In the following years, Orville was also stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Camp Chaffee in Arkansas, Fort Riley in Kansas, South Korea and Vietnam. He was also a recruiter for the U.S. Army for three years before his retirement. Orville served his country for 20 years and 20 days.
Orville was a hard worker and a very honest man. His wife, Joanne, called him ‘Mr. Wonderful’ because he was a wonderful man, generous and would help out anybody who needed help. Orville also loved to travel all around the U.S. in his camper with Joanne and his loving service dog, Rain.
While stationed in Berlin, he met a German girl named Erika Ingeburg, and they were married in April, 1958 and they shared 58 years of marriage before her death in July, 2016. On Valentine’s Day of 2018, he met Joanne Marshall Campbell and they were married September 5, 2018, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in Hutchinson.
Orville is survived by: his wife, Joanne Dennis of Hutchinson; children, Frank Dennis of Oregon and Rosemary Willems of Hutchinson; stepchildren, Joe Marshall of Texas, Mark Marshall of Texas, Angie Hobbs of Nevada, and Matthew Marshall of Texas; grandchildren, Shanna Yoder, Kate Vance, Jeff Willems, Johnathan Dennis, and Corbin Dennis; 12 great-grandchildren; and his best friend and service dog, Rain of Hutchinson.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.
Per Orville’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, June 29, 2023, at Elliott Chapel with Military Honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Private inurnment will take place at Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery, Manhattan. Friends may sign the memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to Wounded Warrior Project, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.