Joseph Albert Dennis Jr.

November 26, 1922 – January 27, 2018

Joe was a member of the Greatest Generation. Born in San Diego in 1922 to Joseph and Maude Dennis, Joe was a teenager during the Great Depression. Soon after graduation from San Diego High School, he joined the US Army Air Corps and served in Italy during World War II. During the campaign against the German army, Joe was reassigned to the US Army Infantry, and survived Anzio, one of the worst battles of the war.

When the war ended, Joe returned to San Diego and began work at the Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island as a talented metalsmith. For the next 25 years, he served his country again, repairing damaged aircraft, including helicopters from the Vietnam war. Joe also maintained his membership in the Army and Navy reserves, retiring after 22 years at the rank of Petty Officer First Class.

In 1950, Joe married Belva Eberlein, a single mom who had moved to San Diego from Sioux City, Iowa in 1948 with her son Duane.

After retirement from NAS North Island in 1977, Joe and Belva moved to Haden Lake, Idaho, just north of Lake Coeur d’Alene and 90 miles south of the Canadian border. They enjoyed their lives in northern Idaho, with their old friends Chris and Ray Gylling, who had also moved to Hayden Lake from San Diego, with many new friends, and with frequent visits from family and friends from Southern California.

In 2003, Joe and Belva moved back to Southern California to be closer to family, purchasing a home in Hemet, California. In 2005, at age 88, Belva passed away, and Joe continued on, living an independent life in Hemet. In June of 2016, Joe suffered a major heart attack, but survived double-bypass surgery at age 93! He passed away at age 95 on January 27, 2018.

Joe is survived by his step-son, Duane Eberlein, daughter-in-law, Sandra Eberlein, nephew Randy Sjoberg, niece Cheryl Phillips, three adult grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.