Dennis Robert Fleetwood, born January 11, 1952 in Karlsruhe, Germany to Cecil Albert Fleetwood and Gisela Hannah “Joann” Mueller-Neuhaus, where Cecil was stationed for the U S Army. Dennis celebrated his first birthday on a boat in the North Atlantic. He moved to Gatesville, Texas, when he was in the second grade. He came to know our Lord and Savior, at age 11, at Bethel Heights Baptist Church and was an Eagle Scout, in the Boy Scouts of America. He received full scholarships to both Ranger Junior College and Sam Houston State University, where he attended as a music major and graduated, in 1980, with a bachelor’s degree in music education with instructional certification for all levels.
He met Brenda Diane Brister at Sam Houston and they were married in Huntsville, Texas on June 21, 1980. He later attended the University of Texas, Medical Branch for nursing, in Galveston, Texas, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1983. He was active in the First Baptist Church of Galveston as a member of the orchestra and a Deacon; his son, the late, Daniel Scott Fleetwood was born in Galveston. Dennis also attended the University of Texas Medical Branch Science Center in Houston, Texas, where he received a Master’s degree in Nursing with an Anesthesia Certificate. Willow Meadows Baptist Church, in Houston, was their church home, where they were actively involved, until Dennis’ first job, after school, led the Fleetwoods to Abilene, Texas where Sarah Elise Fleetwood Landers was born in 1988. They were active members of Pioneer Baptist Church in Abilene before finally moving and settling in Nacogdoches, where they have been members of the First Baptist Church for the past 31 years. Dennis was an active member of the church orchestra, served as the music intern, was an active Deacon, served on the finance committee and greatly enjoyed serving in Ecuador for the church’s medical mission trips. His daughter, Olga Diane Fleetwood was adopted during the summer of 2006.
Dennis worked at Nacogdoches Medical Center until 1998 when he began working at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital, where he touched people’s lives, daily, until he retired in 2017. He enjoyed using his many instrumental talents to play in both, the Nacogdoches and Lufkin community bands, the Orchestra of the Pines and serving his home church as well others in the community, with his gift, by playing TAPS for local veteran’s services. He was an assistant Scout Master, a certified aquatics instructor, a chartered organization representative as well as a district community representative for the Boy Scouts of America. Dennis was generous, patient, and kind to all who knew him! He loved his family deeply, enjoyed mowing the grass on his tractor and model railroading.
He is preceded in death by his father, Cecil Fleetwood and his son, Daniel Fleetwood. In addition to his wife, Brenda Brister Fleetwood, Dennis is survived by his daughters, Sarah Fleetwood Landers and husband, Christian of Anna, Texas and Olga Fleetwood of Smithville, Texas; mother, Joann Fleetwood of Gatesville, Texas; brothers, Kenneth Fleetwood and wife, Sandie of Gatesville, Texas, Gene Fleetwood and wife, Donna of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Rick Fleetwood and wife, Robyn of Ontario, Canada; and lots of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. He loved Jesus and is celebrating his new life in Heaven with his Lord and Savior. Until we see him again, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Funeral Services will be held, 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at First Baptist Church Nacogdoches. The family will receive friends, Tuesday, March 26, 2019, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, at the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.
