Dennis Daniel Obituary Dennis Dewey Daniel was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa (Pottawattamie County), September 5, 1944, to Emil and Vivian (Brandt) Daniel and passed away at a local hospital Monday, May 6, 2024. His childhood was happily spent engaged in life on the farm with his parents, older brother, and two sisters. During his early years in Iowa his dad raised hogs and Dennis often related the story of riding Old Joe, the pet pig, but having to shoot him with his toy six-shooters because he bucked him off. He played school and paper dolls with his older sisters, but then made them play outside in the dirt with him. It was only fair! The family moved from Iowa to Idaho in 1954 where Dennis continued to enjoy farm life, helping his dad milk cows, getting his first bike, and enjoying adventures with his dog, Boots. He was taught a strong work ethic and began earning his own money early, trapping gophers, setting syphon tubes, bucking hay, driving beet truck, and various other farm jobs. Dennis attended school in Iowa as well as Star, Eagle, Nampa, and Meridian, Idaho, and graduated from Meridian High School in 1963. In May 1965 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a communications officer in Ankara, Turkey until his honorable discharge in May 1967. Dennis recalled that soon after moving to Idaho, he met a little girl, Susan Brown, at Sunday School. It was during high school, however, that the two developed a friendship that grew deeper through the years and eventually turned into a lifetime of love. Dennis and Sue were married in Nampa, Idaho on November 24, 1967 following his discharge from the Army and her college graduation. They were blessed with two children, Kerril Suzanne in May 1970, and Mitchell Drew in December 1972. "Jack of all trades, master of all." If it needed fixed or if you needed help Dennis was your man. He had various farm, construction, and auto repair jobs, but settled on "mechanic" as a profession. In 1979, he and Sue purchased Dressen Auto Service, a small automotive repair shop in Fruitland, Idaho. Dennys Auto was not just a place to have your ailing vehicle diagnosed and repaired. He was a skilled mechanic, but in "the shop" you could also receive sage advice, hear hunting and fishing stories and all the best jokes, and establish life-long friendships. Woodworking was also a craft Dennis mastered. He created beautiful and unique pieces of furniture and other items family members and friends still display. The Idaho mountains, rivers, lakes, and streams were his refuge; fishing and hunting trips with family and special friends though the years were among his most treasured memories. When he was 27, Dennis accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized in the Fruitland Church of the Brethren. He lived out his faith there and later as a member of the Nampa Church of the Brethren. He and Sue served as youth leaders for nearly fifteen years and cherished the lasting relationships they developed with the young people with whom they worked. Denniss faith was very important to him and we have such peace knowing that he is once again strong and healthy and in the presence of his Savior. He was a storyteller, always had a joke, and was renowned for his "Dennis-isms." He loved deeply and hugged freely. He persevered through many years of health challenges including diabetes, kidney disease, and most recently heart failure. In 2006 he received the life-changing gift of a kidney transplant from the generous donation of his personal angel, Mark Bausman. In spite of the challenges, his endearing smile remained an encouragement to others. Dennis considered his precious family his greatest blessing. He is survived by his wife Sue of 56 years, his children Kerri and George Smith of Kuna and Mitch Daniel of LaGrande, Oregon; grandchildren Trevor and Taryn Smith, Ryan and Kelsey Smith, Josie Smith Boline and Kyle Boline, Eli Smith, Tennyson Daniel, and Emeric Daniel; and his "favorite" great grandson Blaine Smith. He is also survived by his sisters Sonja Hart and Sybil Dodd, sisters and brothers-in-law Sharon Brown, Ginny and Bill Noyes, and Rich Brown, as well as by several nephews and nieces and a many lifelong friends whom he considered family. Preceding him in death are his parents, Emil and Vivian Daniel, brother Warren Daniel, brothers-in-law Jack Hart and Darrell Dodd, nephew Scott Hart, and parents-in-law Blaine and Mildred Brown. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 17, at the Nampa Church of the Brethren, 11030 Orchard Ave, Nampa. For those unable to attend, a video of the service will be available following the service on the church website, cobnampa.churchtrac.com. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Nampa Church of the Brethren or Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) at the above address. Services Celebration of Life Friday May 17, 2024 11:00 AM Church of the Brethren 11030 W. Orchard Ave. Nampa, Idaho 83651