Dennis "DT" Thoennes, age 60, a life-long resident of rural Urbank, died suddenly, Monday, April 11, 2016, at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria.
Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m., Friday, April 15, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank with Fr. Peter VanderWeyst and Fr. Herb Gappa officiating. Music is provided by pianist, Cassandra Kowalski and the church choir. Burial is at the church cemetery.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary, followed by parish prayers at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service.
Please note, County Road 38, between Parkers Prairie and Urbank, is closed for construction. Please use alternate route.
Dennis Joseph Thoennes was born August 13, 1955, to Harold and MaryAnn (Wagner) Thoennes in Parkers Prairie. He was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank. He attended parochial school in Urbank, and graduated from Parkers Prairie High School in 1973. He worked the land and raised cattle for Hardemen Holsteins at the family farm along with his father. Dennis was a co-owner of the Old Mill in Urbank for about ten years. The Urbank community was very important to him and he was involved as a life-long member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he served as a lector, served on the City Council, and was past president of the Lion's Club. He played baseball for both the Urbank Bombers and Goldtimers. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt, golf, pontoon and spend time at the cabin. He enjoyed trips to casinos, attending tractor pulls and collecting cars. He especially enjoyed attending registered cattle auctions with his father. He loved to have fun, and no one loved to vacation more than Dennis.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; mother, MaryAnn Thoennes in 2007; and many aunts and uncles.
Dennis is survived by his daughter, Dannielle (fiancé, Perry Ellering) Zwieg of Melrose; girlfriend, Donna O'Malley of Hazelrun; father, Harold Thoennes of Urbank (special friend, Rose Strodtman of Paynesville); siblings, Dan (Connie) Thoennes of Parkers Prairie, Lavern (Steve) Schmidt, Yvonne (Mike) Debilzen both of Alexandria, Judy (Don) Koep of Clitherall, Joyce (Michael) Moe of Sauk Centre and Daryl (Angie) Thoennes of Macomb, Michigan; Savannah Kramer of Erhard; along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and great friends.
Pallbearers are his six nephews, Paul Thoennes, Jamie, Thoennes, Mark Koep, Shawn Koep, David Moe and Phillip Moe, godson, Isaac Dorn and great-nephew, Isaac Froemming. Honorary pallbearers are his nieces, Tresa Schmidt, Tonya Froemming, Nicole Persons, Kayla Carlson, Trisha Bowman, Sue Earl, Rebecca Moe, Sarah Koep, Hailey Thoennes and Makenna Thoennes.