Dean Allen Schwenke

It is with much sadness that Dean Allen Schwenke has ended his journey in life at the age of 72, on August 6, 2016 in Tucson, AZ, due to complications from a brain aneurysm. A memorial service will be held September 17, at the Springs of Living Water Free Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m.

Dean was born on October 3, 1943 in Lincoln, NE to Leo and Rose (Prothman) Schwenke. January 1966, he married Diane Kaye Ilkenhons, and later that same year, he graduated from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Botany. Immediately upon graduation from college, Dean went to New York City for an intense training period to prepare him for his first job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the U.S./Mexican border in Nogales, Ariz. While in Nogales, he began his employment with U.S. Customs in 1970 and returned to New York City for another intense training period with U.S. Customs. Dean’s career with U.S. Customs as an inspector continued in Nogales until 1974 when he and his family transferred to Turner, Mont., where he became the Port Director until 1979. Dean and his family transferred yet again to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, where he continued as an inspector at the Porthill Port of Entry until 2004 when he retired. Living in Bonners Ferry provided Dean with his favorite hobbies such as gardening, gathering fire wood, fishing and huckleberry picking. It was his love of fishing and being outdoors that allowed Dean to spend a lot of time with his granddaughter Quinn (once she was old enough to sit still in the boat). He truly enjoyed the changing of the seasons, most of all the color change of the trees. Many times he would state, “I truly live in God’s country.” Retirement also provided Dean plenty of time to be creative with his woodworking skills; many of the blue bird houses in Boundary County were crafted by him, and he was always helping friends with anything they needed built. Dean never met a stranger; almost instantly, he would become friends and often times would even “offer the shirt off his back” to help anyone out if they needed. In the fall of 2008, Dean’s wife passed away. A year later, he was able to reconnect with and old friend from Arizona, Elvia Acuna, whom he married in December 2009. He then relocated to Oracle, Ariz., where he remained until his journey in life came to an end. Dean was an amazing father, grandfather, brother, son, husband and friend!

Dean is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Owen Plato (Bonners Ferry, Idaho); granddaughter, Quinn Plato; sister, Becky Wiese (Lincoln, Neb.); brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob and Jean Schwenke (Edmund, Okla.), Gene (identical twin) and Bonnie Schwenke (Oneida, Wis.), Bruce Schwenke (Lincoln, Neb.); wife, Eliva Acuna- Schwenke, Oracle, Ariz.; one step daughter and step son; one niece and six nephews; two step granddaughters and six step grandsons; and numerous friends that he made in Idaho and Arizona. Dean is preceded in death by his father and mother, Leo and Rose Schwenke, and wife Diane Schwenke.

Memorials can be sent to the family at 184 Echo Drive, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.