Dennis Robert Evans

Dennis is lovingly remembered by his wife of twenty-nine years, Agnes Ruest, his two special grandchildren, Brady and Bailey, and their parents Estelle and Gary Keeler; his siblings, Beverly Loopkey (Ed), Roger (Shirley), Lyle (Etta), Jerry (Audrey) and Brenda Baier (Chuck), numerous nieces and nephews and by special friends: Lorraine Moulding and Don Edwards, Marilyn Gray, Twyla Rusnak and Illarion Gallant, Lynn Kennedy and John Sinclair, Barb Bremner and John Foster.

Dennis was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and graduated from grade 12 at the former Technical Collegiate and later from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Education and then a Post Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts Education. Dennis began his art career at the University of Saskatchewan in the early 70’s where he met his future wife, Agnes, who was teaching his drawing class. Dennis continued to pursue his painting career until the end of his life, exhibiting his work in public and commercial galleries in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatoon. His paintings hang in numerous public and private collections including the Canada Council Art Bank and the Saskatchewan Arts Board collection. Dennis was an enthusiastic participant in the Emma Lake Artists’ workshops throughout the 80’s and made many lifelong friends from all over the world there. After a period spent working as a Graphic Artist at Kelsey Institute, now SIAST, Dennis opened an art business which included picture framing and art supplies. Eventually his business evolved into a successful gallery, Dennis Evans Fine Art, and at its peak it represented more than fifteen accomplished western Canadian artists. Dennis was always an active contributor to the art community. He was a founding member of the artist-run Shoestring Gallery, a founding member of the Saskatoon Art Walk, an organizer of Landscape ‘92 with the Mendel Art Gallery and recently a founding member of the Blenkinsop Valley Art Project and Show. Dennis also spent a number of years teaching Industrial Arts at Venture Heights School in Martensville. Dennis and Agnes have so many pleasant memories of painting trips to Alberta, Manitoba, France and to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they spent almost every Christmas for the past twenty-five years.

Dennis pursued a lifelong passion for hockey and played on many teams and in many leagues until two years ago when he was sidelined by a back injury. I think it is safe to say that his hockey buddies saw more than the gentle side of him. Dennis was an avid sailor and was an active member of the Prince Albert Sailing Club for more than thirty years at one point serving as Commodore. He was thrilled that his brothers recently transported his beloved Enterprise out to BC so that its blue sails could continue to catch the wind at the hand of his grandson, Brady. About fifteen years ago, Dennis was lured into the game of golf by his dear friend, the late Robin Menzies, and spent many pleasant hours trying to change his highly effective hockey slapshot into an acceptable golf swing. He often remarked that the times he spent golfing with Agnes and their friends were some of the happiest times of his life.

In 2008 Dennis and Agnes pursued their dreams by moving to Vancouver and then Victoria. Dennis greatly enjoyed and valued the opportunity it allowed of being involved in the busy lives of his grandchildren, Brady and Bailey, and shared many happy hours with them at the hockey rink, on the golf course and being present at their special events. Dennis enjoyed a Renaissance in his teaching career on the West Coast where he found his teaching skills in the woodshop were in demand and he felt himself to be a valuable member of staff at Monterey Middle School. He loved going to work every day and planned to teach forever. Dennis and Agnes felt that they had truly found their home when they arrived in Victoria four years ago. Dennis also made a major change after moving to Victoria when he traded his trademark Ford Ranger truck for a gently used Miata. Dennis never looked back and spent twelve months of the year cruising with the top down on the winding country roads of his adopted home.

Dennis was above all else a kind and insightful man who enjoyed the respect and admiration of all who knew him. He greatly valued his family, his friends, his colleagues and always he loved his two children, Jed and Kristin.

Agnes wishes to thank Dr. Kim Chi, Dr. Abraham Alexander, Dr. Iain McAuley, Dr. Brock Fraser, Dr. David Harrison and our homecare nurse Ms.Tina Basi for all the kindness and expertise they showed to us during our two year journey. If you so wish Dennis asked that you make a donation to the Movember campaign, specifically to his school team, the Mighty Mobros of Monterey, ( https://ca.movember.com/team/2138417) so that his Dr. Chi can find a cure for the most virulent form of Prostate Cancer. Dennis would have been particularly pleased to have found out that through his involvement in a worldwide drug study with Dr. Chi, he helped to change the course of treatment for other men facing his aggressive type of Prostate Cancer and that the study drug, Abiraterone, has now become standard treatment.

At Dennis’ request there will be no service rather he wished that you all share an act of kindness in his memory or share a glass of something special in his honour. His friends’ words give us solace:

‘Dennis was magic, just magic, and he is irreplaceable.” L.B. “Though I am by myself I am not alone”. JF