Services
Obituary
Dennis Threlkeld, 81, of Britt passed away Sunday, April 28, 2024 at Westview Care Center in Britt.
Funeral services for Dennis Threlkeld will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Ewing Funeral Chapel, 178 Center Street West in Britt, with Father Andrew Marr officiating.
Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion at 1:30 PM.
Visitation will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 9:00 – 11:00 AM at Ewing Funeral Chapel.
Dennis John Threlkeld, the son of John and Dorothy (Stritesky) Threlkeld, was born August 27, 1942 in Davenport, Iowa. The family moved to Britt in 1949, and Dennis graduated from Britt High School in 1960.
He then went to Iowa State University, joined the Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. At Iowa State, Dennis met his future wife, Carolyn O’Neel. While dating, they became accomplished swing dancers. The couple married on December 11, 1966, in Clarion, Iowa.
Out of college, Dennis worked for Navy contractor E.W. Bliss, helping engineer aircraft carrier catapults, aircraft arresting gear, and industrial punch presses. After working for Bliss in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio, he moved back to Britt to work for the family business, Britt Tech; and start his family with Carolyn.
Dennis’s father was a prolific inventor, holding more than 30 patents, domestically and internationally. In 1968, he was named alongside his father and Iven Norstrud as an inventor on the patent for the Hydraulically Controlled Pressure Washer (Patent #3383044). Dennis then worked with his father to expand Britt Tech’s footprint throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. He and Carolyn both enjoyed traveling for the company.
In 1992, he opened his own business, Britt Enviro-Tech. An entrepreneur at heart, he enjoyed the process of building his company from the ground up, and especially relished the opportunity to meet and build relationships with his clients and suppliers.
When not focused on his business, Dennis enjoyed a variety of activities. As a proud Eagle Scout, he served serving as a troop leader for the Boy Scouts and enjoyed assisting others on their journey to Eagle Scout. He frequently attended various sporting events, piano recitals, dance recitals, and vocal and band concerts in support of his daughters.
Having obtained his pilot’s license, Dennis was very interested in aviation and liked reading science and aeronautics publications in his free time. Taking friends and family out to dinner was also a favorite pastime. He will be remembered for his generosity, and for his insistence on using the camcorder every Christmas morning.
He is survived by his daughters Sue (Chris) McKee of Houston, Texas and Rebecca Threlkeld of Urbandale, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 55 years, Carolyn Threlkeld, and sister, Carol Thompson.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the West Hancock Scholarship Fund.