Dennis Paul Schreck

Dennis Paul Schreck, 66, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his Iowa home on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, surrounded by his loving, faithful wife, Jayne, family and Mercy Hospice Caregivers.

Dennis’ life will be celebrated with a funeral service at Noon on Monday, April 17, 2023, at DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home in Keokuk. Visitation will be held at DeJong-Greaves-Printy Funeral Home in Keokuk from 10 am to Noon on Monday directly before the service.

Dennis loved Jesus. Dennis was born in Keokuk, IA, on December 7, 1956, the 2nd of 7 children to Shirley (Decker) Schreck Kerr and Paul Schreck. Paul later died of a brain tumor. C. Leon Kerr and Shirley married and loved raising the children. Dennis was a favorite child, and he knew it. Dennis was the older identical twin to Douglas. Dennis attended the Catholic Church and served as Altar Boy. He participated in Holy Mass, Church Services and the Sacraments. He was a faithful Christian practicing God’s teachings and adjusting to on-line services during COVID-19. He also attended New Covenant Church in Toddville, IA, and Stavanger Lutheran Church in Minnesota. He graduated from Keokuk High School in 1976. He then attended a 5-year apprenticeship where he graduated a Journeyman and was initiated on 11-18-1988. He was a BTJ STEAMFITTER and served with the LOCAL 125 Union after LOCAL 562. Throughout his life, he continued a disciplined hard work ethic. He was a determined provider for his family, making sure they had all that was needed for a healthy life. As a younger man, he loved the water and all the activities that went with it, swimming, water skiing, diving, fishing, noodling for catfish - the bigger, the better. He enjoyed hunting trips, road trips, family, going to Arkansas, Lake of the Ozarks, cutting trees. In all his work, he was a hard worker, meticulous in everything he did. He served others his good cooking-from-scratch foods.  He was very proud of all the special, detailed work he did and proud to be a Union Worker. In his social life, he was the Social Butterfly.  His true friends and family knew him, loved him and trusted him. He was very community minded in politics and as a voter, took care of snow removal for neighbors, chain-sawed trees for the community without any reimbursement. Just another good deed. He was generous to all things military, animals, cancer research, no-kill shelters, sick children, human rights, supporting American Indians, Nature, the Arbor Society.

He had a cultured, refined side as a Published Author of Poetry, and his works have copyright status at the United States Library of Congress. He was consistently the consummate gentleman-opening doors for others and seating family in their chairs. He loved his Harley Davidson Motorcycles and riding was the most freeing feeling he experienced when he rode. He once said, “I feel like I am free whenever I ride my motorcycle.” The other most important art of his life was his son, Brad. Even though Dennis and Brad’s mother divorced early, Brad was the pride and joy and reason for much of the happiness in Dennis’ life.

Dennis was preceded in death by his grandparents, numerous aunts and uncles, cousins, his father and his twin brother.

He leaves many to celebrate his life, including his son Brad; wife Jayne and children Joey, Jeffrey and Jenny; siblings David (Vicki) Whalen of Salem, OR, Sherry Whalen of Riverside, CA, Clark Lee (Shelley) Kerr of Mediapolis, IA, Steve Schreck, Lynn (Steve) Price, Arlin Schreck, Lorraine Worrell, all of Keokuk, IA, and Lisa Lorton, of Fort Madison, IA; cousins Jeanne (John Young) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Susan Goldwood of The Woodlands, Texas; David (Carol) in Newport, Oregon; Teresa in Bothell, Washington; Philip (Sherri) of Edmond, Oklahoma; Caroline (Mike) Winston of Richmond, Virginia; Maria of Fort Collins, Colorado; and Amy (Tim) Taricco of Sammamish, Washington; nieces and nephews Grace and Michael Hedinger, Eric, Nick and Aaron Whalen, Brett and Cole Price, Kierra Bullard, Tori and Trent Lorton, Amanda and Devin Williams, and Skylah and Savannah Kerr; great nieces and nephews Evelyn, Jenna, Benjamin, Nathan, Gwendolyn and Teegan; aunts and uncles John of Vidalia, Georgia and Robert (Ginger) of St. Francisville, Missouri; in-laws Steve, Audrey, Dave, Kalie, Blake and Tate as well as Adam, Amy and Kennedy of USA and relatives in Sweden as well as special friends who he worked with at jobs, factories and manufacturing plants.

Special thanks to all those who loved and cared for Dennis and his family in his life and final days.

Memorials may be directed to Brad Schreck or Mercy Hospice of Hiawatha, Iowa, 315 18th Avenue, Hiawatha, IA 52233.

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