Dennis L. Glaze

Dennis "Denny" L. Glaze, 82, passed away January 23, 2024 in the comfort of his own home in Skiatook, OK.

He was born September 6, 1941 in Dodge City, Kansas, the son of Raymond Edgar and Jewel Ilene (Greaser) Glaze. He was the eldest surviving sibling of seven.

He was a graduate of Minneola High School in 1959, afterword attending Dodge City Community College. He left college to seek employment to assist family still residing at home.

He worked various area farms and odd jobs until full time employment for Kansas Power & Light (KPL). He answered his country's call to serve for the United States Army in 1966. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Devens, MA, and later returned to Fort Leonard Wood, MO where he instructed physical fitness to the next recruits. Upon it's completion, he was rejoined with the 490th Combat Support Company General Supply Forward stationed in Vung Tao, Vietnam. He served in multiple capacities to ensure delivery of supplies to front lines including transport from river barges and door gunner on choppers. He earned the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Rifle Badge, and Expert Marksman. He was honorably discharged as Specialist 5 in December 1967.

After being discharged from service, he returned to employment at KPL working his way up throughout company-owned compressor stations all across Kansas and accepting gas dispatching duties in the company's headquarters located in Topeka, KS. KPL then merged with Western Resources and years later into ONEOK with it's headquarters located in Tulsa, OK. At that time he relocated his family to Skiatook, OK. Gas Control Dispatcher duties include responsibility for the control of mainline pipeline pressure in compressor stations and service lines across the states of Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas. He retired with 35 years of company service.

After retirement from ONEOK, he served 17 years as a groundskeeper at John Zink Ranch for Indian Nations Council continuing from his previous volunteer service to Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in both Jayhawk Area Council in Kansas and then transferring to Indian Nations Council when the family moved to Oklahoma. He held various leadership positions within the local troop as Committee Chairman, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee Member, Flag Corp Instructor, and NRA-Certified as a Merit Badge Councilor for Rifle and Shotgun.

His lifelong hobbies included hunting, fishing, woodworking, bowling, horseshoes, and golf with his buddies. His love of hunting culminated with the opportunity of a lifetime hunting trip to Namibia, Africa in 1994, where he spent two weeks on safari and then toured through Etosha National Park.

Memberships over the years include American Legion Post 222, National Rifle Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and BSA.

He married his wife Vickie West in Las Vegas, NV in 1982. They enjoyed 41 wonderful years together and were blessed with two beautiful children-Dustin and Dianna.

He is survived by: wife, Vickie, of the home; son, Dustin and wife Kristen of Tulsa, OK; daughter, Dianna and husband Romel Baroi of Edmond, OK; daughters by previous marriage to Patricia (Millett) Denison (deceased), Angela and husband Scott Ratzlaff of Minneola, KS and Amanda and husband Joe Strunk of Witchita, KS; brother, Donald and wife Janet of Fountain Inn, SC; brother Daniel's wife, Cathy of Minneola, KS; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceeded in death by: parents, Raymond and Ilene; brother, Daniel; sister, Claudia Deana; brother, Devin; and twin (girl and boy) babies.