Dennis Sleik

"Dennis Sleik" KINGSFORD - It is with great sadness, yet great joy for him, that his family announces that Dennis passed from his earthly home to his eternal home on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003. Dennis lived with his family at 317 Grant St., in Kingsford. Dennis was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor in 1998. He lived his life to the fullest and without any regrets as he was diagnosed with, receiving treatment for, and living with the type of cancer he had. He would not have lived as he had without the support of the great doctors, nurses and friends who cared for him. His family would like to thank Dr. Batti and Dr. Adamson of Iron Mountain and Dr. Pitt and Dr. Rilling of Milwaukee for their care, compassion, and willingness to help Dennis and his family whenever and with whatever they needed. Also, the bus drivers and staff at North Dickinson County Schools and Peg, Mike, Marcia and Pastor Steve for their help when it was so needed. Dennis was born in Iron Mountain on May 26, 1956, son of Frank and Kay Sleik. He was a 1974 graduate of Iron Mountain High School. He was proud to have his picture in the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame as manager of the 1972 Mountaineer basketball team. Dennis and Debbie were married on June 2, 1978. Dennis will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his wife, Debbie; twin sons, Brad (Colleen Downs) of St. Paul, Minn. and Brian (Stephanie Billings) of Green Bay, Wis.; his youngest son, Dan of Kingsford; his parents, Frank and Kay Sleik of Iron Mountain; and his father-in-law, Doug Despins of Wausau, Wis. He leaves two brothers, Jim (Debbie) of Iron Mountain and their children, John, Mick, Jamie, Katie, Sarah, Kristen, Paul and Jacob and Frank (Debbie) of Oklahoma City, Okla. and his children, Frank (Jodi) and Kelly and their children. He leaves two sisters, Bev (Sam) Rose of Riverview and Jan (Dane) LaGrow of Saukville, Wis. and their children, Dean (Lori), Doug, and Lisa (Steve). He is further survived by his sister-in-law, Paula (Paul) Raymond of Mosinee, Wis. and their children, Eric and Danielle and a brother-in-law, Dan (Beth) Porter of Rothschild, Wis. and their daughter, Katie. Dennis was preceded in death by his grandparents; an uncle, John Sleik; cousins, John and Billy Sparapani; a nephew, Tony Sleik; and his mother-in-law, Lu Despins. Dennis will also be missed by his aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and the family's two dogs, Sparky and Tapper. Dennis was an excellent mechanic. Throughout the years, he worked for Superior Equipment Co., Johnson-Wilson Co., Hanna Mining Co. and the city of Kingsford. The "best job of his life" was as transportation director/bus mechanic for North Dickinson County Schools. He loved to go to work every day. He loved the work and responsibility he had. He loved the people he worked with. A sad part of his illness was not being able to continue to work there each day. Dennis' life revolved around his family and he became active in any activity his boys participated in. He coached their soccer teams and served on the SAY board for many years. He coached Dan in hockey and served on the DAHA board for two years. He was an assistant coach for Pop Warner football. He was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as a Webelo leader for Pack 510, assistant scoutmaster to Troop 510 and the Mackinac Island Scout Service Corp. Dennis also became active in the youth group at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. He chaperoned many trips to the Youth Congress in Chicago and led backpack trips to Pictured Rocks and the Porcupine Mountains for the youth and adults from the church. In the past, Dennis served as a member of Kingsford's Parks and Recreation Committee and the United Sportsman Club in Merriman. He currently was serving as a Breitung Township Schools representative on the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community School Advisory Board. Many people touched Dennis' life and had an impact on him. Dennis loved his bear buddy Mike; auction and junk buddy Fonzie; hockey buddies Brian, Jim, Roberta, Jerry, Rob, Bev, Greg and Beaver; farm buddies Ray and Mary; soccer buddies Dale, Julie, Ed, Bucky, Dave, Steve, Brent, Darlene and Marilyn; scout buddies Scott, Paul, Sam, Bill and Anders; Zam's buddies Mike and Keith; recycle buddy Lucy; backpack buddies Cindy, Ann, Terri, Chuck, Andy, Angela and Pete; faith buddies Pastor Steve, Dodie, Tracy, Louise and the congregation of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church; old camping buddies Brad, Gene, Dave and Mike; other mechanic buddies Bob, Mike and Dave; city buddies Bruce, Mark, John, George, Tony, Keith and Gary; ND buddies Claude, Dan, Mike, Paula, Nancy, Sissy, Linda, Joe, Ken, Tim, Steve, Matt and the rest of the North Dickinson County Schools staff; bus buddies Ann, Jan, Ila, Linda, Buddy, Wes, Ron, Rod, Rodney and Tony; his very best friends Debbie, Brad, Brian and Dan and many, many more we may have not mentioned. Services to celebrate Dennis' life will be held Tuesday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain with visitation at the church from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and services at 7 p.m. Family graveside services will be held Wednesday with burial at 11 a.m. at Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain. A memorial will be established in Dennis' name at North Dickinson County Schools. Condolences may be expressed to the Sleik family online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com Dennis' family has been assisted by the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain.

Dennis Sleik

May 26, 1956 - February 23, 2003