DENNIS CIHAK

Funeral Services are 2 p.m., Thursday, October 9, at the Assumption Catholic Church in Dante. Inurnment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Dante, with military honors. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. followed by a Rosary/ Scripture Wake Service at 7 p.m. Peters Funeral Home in Avon oversees arrangements.

Dennis Joseph Cihak “Skeeter”, 75, of Avon, was born March 21, 1950 at Wagner the son of Joseph and Violet (Nedved) Cihak. He died Friday, October 3, at St. Michael’s Hospital in Tyndall from complications from a form of leukemia.

Dennis graduated from Avon High School in 1968. He served in the US Navy from 1969-1973. He reached the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and served on the USS Ranger CV-61 for three cruises in the Pacific, as a quarter master, during the Vietnam War. When he returned from the service, he attended Southern State College in Springfield, where he earned a degree in carpentry. Dennis worked for Sperlich Construction Company in Armour for a few years. He began farming with his dad and farmed for many years. Later in life, Dennis also worked for the City of Avon for approximately 15 years, retiring from the City of Avon.

Dennis was united in marriage to Pat Collins in Dante on October 8, 1983. Within this union, they were blessed with two sons, Ryan and Sean.

Dennis will be remembered for his love of Oliver tractors, fishing with his grandkids in the Choteau Creek, planting shelter belts of trees, looking at old pictures and talking about their history, making daily trips to the farm, and he enjoyed coffee with his buddies at Cahoy’s.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Pat of Avon, two sons: Ryan (Ashley) and their children Bronc and Hadley of Dante, and Sean of Avon; sister JoEllen (Rob) Edwards of Yankton; and sister-in-law Mary Ann Collins of Avon.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Vi, and his in-laws, Clare and Anna Mae.