Dennis Westhoven

Dennis Craig Westhoven, 73, of Napoleon, Ohio, loving son, husband and father, died peacefully on Monday, August 19, 2024 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 8, 1950 in Napoleon, Ohio to James P. and Jean Anne (Gerdeman) Westhoven. On January 2, 2024 he married Mary Schnitkey in Napoleon, Ohio. Denny was a 1969 graduate of Napoleon High School. At NHS, Denny played Football, earning the D.C. Brown Award. He was a track record holder for the two mile race at NHS. Denny also wrestled at NHS. He worked as a Journeyman Tool and Die maker for General Motors, Defiance, and Saturn in Tennessee, for over 25 years, after working at the Napoleon Creamery. In early years he also owned The Tiger Den and was an avid weight lifter and competitor. After retiring to the Upper Peninsula, he worked at Louisiana Pacific, often travelling around the country, working on their paper-making equipment. Denny was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Napoleon. He was a choir member there as well. Denny was a proud member of the UAW. He served as a board member of the Cultural Center of Henry County, where he worked hard readying his Alma mater to serve area residents in the future. Denny loved the outdoors, spending many hours hunting and trapping and hosting bonfire get-togethers. Another fierce love of Denny’s was The Ohio State football team. Denny possessed a keen understanding of everything mechanical, working on engines and designing and building a large 40’ sawmill, among hundreds of his projects. Denny spent many hours doing tree trimming and powerwashing. One shortfall in all Denny’s lifetime pursuits was a profound lack of concern for his own personal safety, as a shortage of digits demonstrate. He is survived by his mother, Jean; wife, Mary; children, Amy Grooms, Kristin (Jenny Arthur) Westhoven, Kim (Rusty) Moore, Kyle Westhoven, and Garrett Figy. He is also survived by step-children, Stephanie Smith and Kari (Shawn) Shortridge; 9 grandchildren; 10 step grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; 9 step great grandchildren; and siblings, Gary Westhoven, Lindsay (Nanci) Westhoven, Julie Schwiebert, Pamela (John) Riedeman, Douglas Westhoven, and Timothy (Kathy) Westhoven. He was preceded in death by his father, James; step daughter, Amy Schnitkey; sister-in-law, Jayne Westhoven; brother-in-law, Stephen Schwiebert, and nephews, Kevin Schwiebert and Scott Riedeman. A mass of Christian burial will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, August 23rd, 2024 at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Napoleon. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at Rodenberger-Gray Funeral Home, Napoleon, where the Rosary Prayer service will take place at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to be directed to St. Augustine Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul Society, or OSU Wexler Medical Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rodenbergergray.com

Tributes

Dennis Westhoven

November 8, 1950 - August 19, 2024