Donald DeHennis

Donald David DeHennis, of Eureka, California, aged 88 years, passed away peacefully in his home, Wednesday, September 22, 2020. He was born in De Lancey, PA, just outside of Punxsutawney, and was the youngest of 12 children.

Dedicated to the Catholic church his entire life, Don considered the priesthood and spent many of his school years at a seminary in Alabama before opting to enlist in the Air Force, where he served four years as a personnel specialist. Following his military service, Don attended Carroll College, in Helena, MT, and then moved to Northern California. He worked nearly 40 years in the lumber industry as an accountant/bookkeeper. He spent most of his early working years in Red Bluff, where he and his first wife raised their four children, before moving to Eureka in the mid-1980s.

Don and his second wife, Mary (Taylor) DeHennis, who preceded him in death earlier this year, enjoyed traveling and were able to experience a variety of international destinations. These included a transit of the Panama Canal on a U.S. Navy ship, and a trip in honor of his 80th birthday to his father’s childhood home in present-day Slovakia.

In addition to church activities, Don was involved with multiple volunteer organizations throughout his life. He was a longtime member of the Lions Club International, serving as president of the Red Bluff chapter from 1982-1983. He and Mary were also involved with the St Joseph’s Hospital Foundation and were long-time donors to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Don is survived by his children, Janet (DeHennis) Ries, Tommy DeHennis, Andrew “Drew” DeHennis, and Phillip “Skip” DeHennis; grandchildren Christopher DeHennis, Carlos Valentino, and Andrew DeHennis, and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Virginia (Jeannie) Frelin, and one brother, Philip DeHennis.

Private family services will be held for Don at St Bernard’s section of the Ocean View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made on Don’s behalf to St Jude Children’s Hospital.