Gene Dennie

Robert Eugene “Gene” Dennie, age 84 and long-time resident of Konawa, Oklahoma, died in his home from complications of prostate cancer. Gene was born on June 11, 1925, in Washington, Oklahoma, to Mary Anner (Johnston) and Robert Lee Dennie.  The family moved back to Konawa when he was two years old.  Except for a few years, Gene lived in Konawa for all of his life.  He married Audrey Ava Marie Sharp on November 9, 1946, at Sacred Heart near Konawa. Barely eighteen years old, Gene joined the U.S. Navy on August 9, 1943, and served on various ships in the Pacific during WWII.  He was a member of the Marine Reserves when they were deployed with the First Marine Division to Korea in August, 1950.  He participated in the assault and seizure of Inchon, Korea, and the capture and securing of Seoul, and also in the operations against enemy forces in South and Central Korea.  He participated in the Wonsan-Hungnam-Chosin Campaign where his unit was surrounded by enemy forces and were trapped behind enemy lines on the Chosin Reservoir from October to December 1950.  Sick, starved, and frozen, they did not surrender but fought their way to safety forever known as the “Frozen Chosin Few”.  He was very proud to be an American and to have served his country.  Gene was a retired oilfield worker and was very involved in the Konawa School system in 4-H and FFA.  He was one of the original organizers of the Konawa Booster Club.  He worked the sidelines of every football game as a member of the “chain gang” for fifteen years.  He was a wonderful father, grandfather, and husband.  He will never be forgotten.  He is survived by one daughter Rhonda and her husband, Les Godwin, of McLoud; one son, Danny Dennie of Omaha, Nebraska; one daughter-in-law, Brenda Dennie of Lamar, Oklahoma; five grandsons, Brien Lemmings of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Michael Lemmings of McLoud, Oklahoma, Patrick Lemmings and his wife, Ginger of Prague, Oklahoma, Ashton Dennie and his wife, Dusti of Fargo, Oklahoma, and Robert Dennie of Omaha Nebraska; three granddaughters, Michelle Roberson of Oklahoma City, Alicia Dennie of Oklahoma City, and Shana Wilson and her husband, Shane of Jones, Oklahoma; eight great grandchildren; Kyle and Kara Lemmings, Courtney and Lane Lemmings, Audrey and Gavin Lemmings, and Tresley and Tristen Dennie; one brother, Tom Dee Dennie of Pomona California; two sisters, Nancy Collins of Blanchard, Oklahoma, and Anice Blankenship of Ontario, California; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Robert Dennie; his wife, Audrey Dennie on August 20, 2002, after fifty-six years of marriage; one daughter, Sammie Lee Dennie on April 10, 2009; and one son, Randy Euguene Dennie on July 27, 2009. As he requested, there will not be a funeral service.  A private family memorial will be held upon interment of his cremains. Funeral Information: December 31, 1969, 6:00 AM Private Memorial - Swearingen Funeral Home located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849