Classification Update - Dennis Freeman

Here are some tidbits you probably won’t find in his obituary. ALL of them true but, hopefully, not too boring!

-he sleeps on the same side of the bed every night & can’t sleep in anymore. He is most cheerful in the mornings!

-Dennis rises early and makes coffee for Joan. He thinks she is happy about this arrangement.

-he makes decent wine from good kits but knows it’s not quite as good as Johnny Germains.

-Dennis used to work and earn money from newspaper delivery, radio & television, lifeguarding, repairing shoes, repairing fishing reels, railroading, retailing, commercial real estate, tobacco sales, home inspections, bookkeeping, and 20 years as a professional property manager. Now he’s on the dole!

-he loved listening to the radio while growing up and “Boston Blackie” plus “The Lone Ranger” always piqued his interest.

-he is the oldest of nine children. His dad worked for CP Rail in Medicine Hat & they lived close to the tracks. This “Latvian Lover” also taught Dennis to hunt & fish. Joan and Dennis live a little farther from the tracks. They have three children and eight grandchildren.

-Dennis is an active camper, golfer, hiker, bird watcher, road biker, handyman & reader despite having the usual aches & pains every 70 year experiences including missing a few parts.

-he dislikes bullies, speeders, shifty politicians and bad financial advisors. He voted for Trudeau – once.

- Dennis plays poker and bridge.  Any other game the grandkids want to play is okay with him. He did sing in a church choir and also a more contemporary music group but now only sings in the shower.

-he likes belonging to Boards that serve lunch. His 35 years on a non-profit housing society board and his position, allows for a change of venue if the lunch menu deteriorates.

-Dennis was a Jaycee in the 1960’s. Remember “Mukluk Mardi Gras”? The 100,000 people who lined the river valley for the dog race was a sight to see!

-he loves Rotary and Rotarians! Well, most days!

-Joan & Dennis travel a little bit and enjoy life! This year has been exceptional! 5 weeks in Mexico and 6 weeks in Europe.

-his mother is 95. She can’t see too well but her mind is still pretty sharp. His should be so good! After visiting her recently, her favorite comment to the care giver is still:   Now, which one was he?

-being part of a large family & the oldest, he gained independence at the age of 4. His mother was very busy and couldn’t run fast enough to catch or find him.

-Dennis got tired of wearing underwear from Eaton’s catalogue by the age of 10. Wanting financial independence, he got a newspaper route (The Albertan). When he left town 9 years later, three men’s wear stores had most of his money. A “ducktail” had graced his head and the “zoot zooter pants” were long gone.

-he was also an “air cadet” and was an “army reservist”. The tank he drove was probably not the one Johnny Germain had driven.

-REGRETS - NONE!   Well, maybe not becoming a Rotarian much sooner in life.