Obituary of Dennis Whittaker Lourance

Born to George and Teresa Lourance, Dennis was the third of four children. He grew up on the farm in Bluffton, Alberta. Growing up in the 30's he learned how to make do and do without, and how to work hard. He left home and traveled south to work as a cowboy riding the range of various ranches. His pony, Flicka, and guitar were his constant companions. Later years saw him run a cat, haul water, and drive oil truck. It was his travels as a truck driver that lead him to Bonnie Glen and a gas station with a small café were a pretty waitress caught his eye. Four years later on May 13, 1960 he married that waitress, Eileen Fechko. In April of 1962 they welcomed a daughter, Connie. November of that same year Dennis took a serious step in his life and was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. From that point forward, wherever life took him he was always willing to share with anyone the promises, hope, council, and encouragement found in the Bible.
1971 saw the family move to High River, Alberta. Dennis' health required a more moderate climate. He remembered his years of riding range in the foothills to the west and that winters were made easier as the chinook winds blew in. Dennis was self employed and as a jack of all trades could turn his hand to almost anything. He loved tinkering with cars and there was always someone's car in his small garage. In 1984 Connie married Mark Yaroshko and in 1990 Dennis had a new role as grandfather to Melissa.
In 1985 he and Eileen moved to Lloydminster where they did janitorial work. In the spring of 1989 Dennis & Eileen started studying the Bible with a young lady named Doris, her young son James and her infant daughter Sheila. As Doris grew in the truth so did her relationship with Dennis & Eileen so that they became like a second daughter and granddaughter. Over the years Sheila and Doris spent much time with Dennis and Eileen. In 2012 Sheila's daughter Emma was born, Dennis loved to play with the young ones. He would pretend to be 'scared' by Emma and fall on the bed. While we were all scared he was hurt, in reality he was laughing just as hard as Emma was. In 2016 he welcomed his first 'grandson' Hunter, to the last day his face lit up when Hunter came in the room.
Dennis & Eileen retired in 1998 and moved to Rosetown, Saskatchewan to be closer to Connie and her family. Deteriorating health forced them to move to Saskatoon in 2006 where they resided until Dennis' death.
Things were never important to Dennis but friends always were. He died as a man wealthy with friends far and wide. Faith was not just a word to Dennis, it was a way of life. In the final months of his life he held to the motto that he lived by, "If Jehovah allows it, I can endure it." Endure Dennis did, leaving a fine example for all.
Dennis was predeceased by his parents George and Teresa, his sisters Loreen, Noreen and brother Alfred. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Eileen, daughter Connie (Mark) Yaroshko, granddaughter Melissa (Niall) Donald and numerous nieces and nephews. Also, family of the heart Doris (Harold) Argue and her daughter Sheila (Lee-Raymond) Beaucage and their children Emma and Hunter. There will be a Memorial Service for Dennis Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 2:00 pm from the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 415 Fairmont Drive, Saskatoon, SK.