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Dennis was so highly regarded in the
community, medical community, and especially in the Community Mental
Health Center at San Joaquin. We have lost a role model, mentor,
colleague, and dear friend. Our loss is great and know yours is
tremendous. |
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[Medical Staff at San Joaquin
County Mental Health Services]
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An extraordinary man truly the soul of the
psychiatric community in Stockton. He has touched so many lives in
so many meaningful ways. He was always the first choice for any of
us when we needed skill, compassion and humble brilliance. There is
no doubt that he stood above most in many, many ways and your loss
is ""in part"" our loss too. He is already greatly missed. I feel
lucky to have known and worked with him in the capacity that I
did. |
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[Stockton Marriage and Family
Counselor]
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A quiet Rotarian who ""walked the walk"" of
all the Rotarians I hold in high respect - Dennis was one of the
best. |
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[Rotary]
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Such a dear man. So caring to all of us and
truly interested in me. I'm so glad he was in our lives. |
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[Cousin]
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I have alot of good memories of uncle dennis.
I remember once when we all went to the rose parade in California
I was so little he put me on his shoulders so that I could see
over everyone. He always spent time talking to all of us when
we had reunions. He was a great guy and only wish I had told him
how much I admired him. He cared so much for everyone and never
had a bad word to say about anybody or anything. I feel
privileged to call him my uncle. |
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[Niece]
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We will treasure the memory of his humanity,
his marvelous intelligence, his generous friendship, his high
ethical sense and his genial laugh. Friends like Dennis are rare but
how much more rare to find such a husband and father. |
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[Friends, Oaklawn
colleagues]
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I was so saddened to learn of Dr. Rupel's
recent death. It was wonderful knowing him and caring for him
through the years. He was a wonderful physician, as well as a
wonderful person. I only hope that my career can have a fraction of
the positive impact that his had on our community. |
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[Dennis' urologist]
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His 25 year membership is very noteworthy. He
was a good Rotarian |
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[Rotary Club of
Stockton]
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The memory of his gentleness and winning smile
will always be with us. |
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[Cousin]
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His death is a major loss for the family and
the entire community. |
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[Nurse - UOP Health
Center]
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To me personally, he taught me so much. Every
week when he came to the program he always asked, ""and how are you
doing? How can I be of assistance to you to make your job easier?""
He met with our staff weekly for an hour, after seeing the clients
for the week, and offered them the same assistance. Always available
- for that we will be forever grateful. ... he definitely made a
difference. |
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[Work colleague]
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I certainly will miss Dennis. I hold him in
the highest esteem as someone consistently kind, thoughtful, and
respectful, as well as a professional in whose decisions and
impressions I had complete confidence |
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[Psychologist and friend,
UOP]
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Dennis was an inspiration to me. He had a very
warm and inviting nature that made people feel comfortable. He
accepted others for who they are and made them feel good about
themselves. |
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[Modesto church
friend]
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He was dear to us. We are remembering all the
times he made a difference in our lives. Dennis touched us
all. |
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[Nephew of LaVon's]
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I was shocked and saddened by news of Dennis'
death. I enjoyed working with him in the Mennonite Health Services
system immensely. We often went out to eat, traveled back and forth
to airports and often roomed together. I had a great appreciation
for his gentleness and for his integration of faith and work. Just
knowing that he is not now accessible, I miss him. I know it was
Dennis' plan to be able to assist in providing for your health
needs, LaVon. I'm sorry that you won't have the benefit of his
care. |
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[President of Tabor College in
KS.]
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We always thought of him as part of the
""Widegren Family"" and he always made us feel very special when in
his presence. We loved him and will surely miss him! |
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[LaVon's oldest brother and
sister-in-law]
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I have such wonderful memories of him from my
childhood during our visits with your family; I can still vividly
hear his voice and his laughter (followed by Kirsten and Ingrid's
giggles!). Dennis was a very special human being. |
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[Family friend
(Michigan)]
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Dr. Rupel was there when I needed him with
just the right treatment and temperament. He reminded me of my
father in his quiet graceful way although he was much
younger. |
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[Former Patient]
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I'll always remember his friendly, gentle
smile--almost reticent at times--but also the penetrating insight or
question in a discussion. |
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[LaVon's nephew]
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We will all miss Dennis - his gentle ways and
tender heart. What a wonderful man we were blessed with! |
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[Nurse, UOP Health
Center]
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I want to tell you how much I appreciated
Dennis sending an article to me to help me get the high risk health
insurance that Blue Cross was offering. I applied and received it
until I was able to qualify for Medicare. It certainly made me feel
more secure to have insurance if I needed it. |
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[Friends at church]
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A unique psychiatrist that all MFCCs trusted,
never patronizing, always kind. |
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[Stockton Marriage and Family
Counselor]
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He emmanated the best qualities of a human
being. |
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[Friends in the community (UOP
professor)]
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We have fond memories of sharing dinner with
you at your home on Beardsley with our children enjoying each other,
with games in the living room. We shared our dreams of the future
and the excitement of being a part of the new generation bringing
our talents to society as a part of the group in Elkhart. Dennis, a
gentle and thoughtful man, who had studied hard and gained the
respect of his medical peers, contributed his fine credentials to
the young medical staff that we shared those early years. To possess
such memories of our friend is a treasured gift. |
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[Medical Colleagues in
Elkhart]
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Dennis was one great guy! |
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[Former colleague at Oaklawn in
Elkhart]
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How much our lives have been blessed to know
Dennis. Our lives have been touched in so many ways and places. I
remember especially, Dennis teaching Church School for us in LaVerne
as well as work in the district and the larger church. |
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[Brethren friends at
LaVerne]
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He touched and enriched many lives. He will
live on in each of us as he celebrates his new life. |
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[Brethren friends (Phoenix,
AZ)]
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While eating cereal in the kitchen, he would
be talking and laughing with us. I wonder if he is talking and
laughing, having cereal with God...in the kitchen up
above.... |
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[College friend of daughter,
Ingrid]
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We all respected him for his penetrating
insight and quiet faith. |
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[Stockton
psychiatrist]
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The following poem (by Ralph Waldo Emerson)
epitomizes Dennis' life. To laugh often and much; To win the respect
of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the
appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false
friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave
the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded. |
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[Stockton
psychotherapist]
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Such a wonderful man. I have him in my memory.
I have his smile, his remarks, his concerns, his conversations. He's
doing all these things somewhere else, but he's still doing them
with us and for us. |
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[Friend of the
family]
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Dennis was a really neat man and I always
appreciated his friendly ways. I will always remember his little
talk with me after my husband died about ""moping
moments"". |
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[Modesto church
friend]
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Dennis was a wonderful Christian
man. |
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[Friends from
church]
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We feel blessed that we have had the privilege
of knowing him and could regard him as a friend. We will remember
Dennis as a quiet, gentle man who drew people to him and treated
them well. |
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[Church of the Brethren
friends]
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We had a mutual appreciation for one another.
He was a ""good guy"". |
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[Friend from church and golfing
buddy (also Manchester grad)]
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We rejoice in the good life of Dennis and all
that he has meant to so many people. |
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[Friend from college
days]
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He helped me very much. I was a patient for
about seven years and no one helped me as much as he did. |
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[Patient]
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I just heard about the death of your husband.
I felt so sad to hear of it because I could tell from your many
visits here, what a wonderful man he was and how much you loved each
other. |
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[LaVon's neurologist at the ALS
clinic, S.F.]
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Dennis was a very special man who touched so
many lives. |
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[Daughter of a
colleague]
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Dennis was a kind, caring
individual. |
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[Rotary friend (and LaVon's
colleague in the grants office at UOP)]
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He will be truly missed by those who were
fortunate enough to know him. |
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[UOP Student Services Adm.
Assst.]
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The longer I live the more certain I become
that our purpose on this earth is to love Creator God and to share
love with each other during our brief sojourns here. Dennis
exemplified this style of living so beautifully. |
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[Brethren friends…pastor at
LaVerne]
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Your loss is a shared loss. Dennis' leadership
to church and community is recognized across the
continent. |
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[Brethren friend]
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I have lots of good memories of Dennis and I
cherish those. |
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[Church friend from Elkhart
days]
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He was truly a wonderful man. |
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[Mennonite friends from Goshen,
IN]
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I was sorry to learn of the loss of your
husband, Dennis. Before he became ill, I would talk to him. I could
easily tell he was a caring, loving husband. |
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[Patient Services Volunteer, ALS
Assoc., Sacramento]
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A wonderful husband, father and
friend. |
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[Church friends from
Empire]
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He was easy to talk to. |
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[Church friends]
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Dennis was a lovely person whom I enjoyed
visiting with. |
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[Director, Northern CA. ALS
Society]
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Thanks to God for the life, service and
influence of Dennis. |
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[Brethren friends at
LaVerne]
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I always enjoyed talking to Dr. Rupel about
Indiana. |
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[Dennis' accountant]
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I remember going to lunch with the Rupel
family one Sunday after church and Dennis wouldn't let me pay for my
lunch. He said to ""pass it on when I got the opportunity"" and I
have, always with same words he said to me. As long as it keeps
going on Dennis' legacy will live on. |
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[Friend of the Rupel
children]
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He was a wonderful man who made a person feel
wanted and special |
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[Psychiatrist friend at the
Menninger Clinic]
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Dennis' fine life touched many others. His
life endures in countless ways. |
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[Friends from UOP]
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Dennis has always been an inspiration and
guide to us and many others. |
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[Church of the Brethren friends in
Kansas]
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Dennis leaves ""tracks"" that are very
meaningful and significant to others |
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[Friends from church
(POC)]
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Dennis was blessed with God-given gifts which
he used to the fullest. He was able to give both religious and
psychiatric counseling. |
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[Episcopal priest and Rotary
friend (also Fri. am Men's group)]
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I will always remember Dennis' smile that
reminded me so much of Paul--and those eyes how they
twinkled. |
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[Step-siblings (Ethel's
daughter)]
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I wish I could be with you to witness the
outpouring of deep admiration and affection for such a remarkable
man. |
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[UOP friend]
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It was my pleasure to work with him at County
Mental Health. As a member of the QI staff, we looked forward to his
weekly visits. He was admired for his professionalism, his humor and
being a gracious gentleman. |
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[Co-worker - Co. Mental
Health]
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Dennis was the first person to approach us
when we started going to the Modesto church--the tilt of the head
and bright smile will always be my memory of Dennis. |
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[Modesto church
friends]
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Of course we'll miss Dennis. He was my
favorite cousin all our lives. |
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[Cousin]
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He will be missed. Now he's a wonderful memory
and inspiration to all who knew and loved him. |
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[Dennis' cousin]
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The love he shared will continue to
ripple. |
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[Brethren friends]
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We all remember what a wonderful, caring
person he was. I still remember the two of you dancing at our
Christmas party for your anniversary. |
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[Nurse at UOP health
center]
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We feel blessed to have known and shared with
Dennis over the years. |
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[Holy Cross/UOP
friends]
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We have many nice memories of being with you
and Dennis. |
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[An Elkhart doctor and
friend]
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We love Dennis. He lived a great
life! |
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[all the cousins (in
Virginia)]
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We remember Dennis with many good memories and
as a good friend. |
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[Friends from Manchester College
days]
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We treasure our memories of his friendly
greetings, Sunday School leadership and quiet conversations. A life
well lived. |
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[Modesto church
friends]
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We're all enriched by knowing Dennis. He'll be
missed and remembered with fondness. |
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[Doctor/nurse friends in
Stockton.]
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Our memories of times with you and Dennis are
treasures for us. He was unfailingly bright, hopeful, thoughtful,
considerate, gifted with humor, and encouraging, a model for our own
approach to life. |
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[Church of the Brethren
friends]
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We have so appreciated your friendship as well
as the many wonderful talents you and Dennis shared in the life of
the Modesto church, along with your love. |
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[Modesto church
friends]
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Dennis was an ideal psychiatrist and a
marvelous man. |
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[Stockton Marriage and Family
Counselor]
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