Dennis Leach

Dennis Duane Leach

Dennis Leach passed away on November 23 at Arnold, Nebraska.  He was born on June 9, 1949, to Robert and Margaret (Hickenbottom) Leach in the Arnold Hospital. 

The family lived on a farm between Callaway and Arnold but soon moved to a farm six miles west of Arnold.  Dennis attended a rural school until third grade when he went to Arnold Grade School and then graduated from Arnold High in 1967.  He then enlisted in the US Army and served three years at Ft. Huachuca, AZ; Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam and Patch Barracks near Stuttgart, Germany.  After discharge he graduated from the School of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, NE, in May 1973 with an Associate Degree in Conservation Civil Engineering. 

Dennis and Julie Johnston of Curtis, NE, were united in marriage on June 29, 1973, at St. James Catholic Church in Curtis.  From this union two sons were born:  Bryan Dean and Scott Michael.  The couple made their home in McCook, NE, where he worked for Ag Technology Company as an irrigation consultant.  In 1976, they moved to Lincoln, NE, where Dennis worked for the Lower Platte South NRD while Julie attended the University of Nebraska.  In 1981, the couple moved to Sherman, TX, where Dennis worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers as a government representative overseeing the construction of Lake Ray Roberts and Cooper Lake in Northeast Texas. 

Dennis and Julie were divorced in 1985.  In 1991, Dennis was transferred to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, serving in the construction division again in a civilian status.  In 1993, both sons were out of high school, so Dennis resigned and set out to see the USA.  For the next 15 years he spent winters working on a retirement cottage near the family farm west of Arnold, NE, and worked summers for the National Park Concessionaires in maintenance, porter or food preparation at Grand Canyon, AZ; Zion, UT; Winter Park, CO; Yellowstone, WY; Tetons, WY; Mt. Rushmore, SD and Glacier National Park, MT.   He backpacked extensively observing wildlife up close in a natural setting and traveling to all 48 states. 

From 2008 to 2011 Dennis worked for Railcrew Express, driving a van for UP Railroad in Bill, WY, and living in Douglas, Wyoming.  In May 2011, he retired to his home west of Arnold to complete his house construction and landscaping.  Dennis enjoyed sculpturing concrete sand castles, bird baths and planters along with landscaping and establishing natural habit for wildlife and people. 

Other hobbies were reading and writing, tossing horseshoes, and anything concerning the promotion of soccer, including coaching, refereeing, or just preaching the merits of the game for our youth.

He is survived by his sons, Bryan (Carrie), Flower Mound, TX, and Scott (Julie), Kilkenny, Ireland; brothers David (Lynne), Arnold, NE; and Donald (Pam), Cleveland, OH and sister Deanna Blincow (Randy), Pittsburg, PA; grandson Landon, Flower Mound, TX; granddaughters McKenna, Flower Mound, TX, and  Réalta, Kilkenny, Ireland.  He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Margaret Leach; brother and sister-in-law Dale and Carol Leach and brother Dean Leach.

A family service will take place at a later date.  In Dennis’s memory, the family requests that each of you reach out with love and support to your family, friends, neighbors and each one you meet along the way.