Dennis L Creek

Dennis L. Creek, 84, of Greenfield, IN, passed away on October 20, 2022.  Visitation will be on October 27, 2022 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, with Chaplin Katherine Murray, who will give the service at 2 pm at Flanner & Buchanan, 10722 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, 46229. Entombing ceremony with Military Honors will follow.  The family has requested casual attire, bring your laughter and cheer to celebrate Dennis and his great sense of humor.

Dennis was born on June 21, 1938, in Louisville, Kentucky to the late Rex and Elizabeth Creek. He was preceded in death by an older sister (stillborn), his younger brother, Dwight Creek, and his recently departed wife, Barbara Creek.

Dennis is survived by his two daughters: Kimberly (Michael) Kieffer and Kelly Creek. Five grandchildren, Ashley (Justin) Thomas, Brian (Celeste) Creek, Franklin Webb, Nicholas Webb, and Angelina Webb. Two step-grandchildren, Katarina Kieffer, and Sean Kieffer, six great-grandchildren, Kensie Leisure, Aiden Creek, Ryker Creek, Atlas Creek, Charlie Thomas and Colston Thomas.

Dennis grew up working the Tabaco fields in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  He also tended to the care of the farm animals: hogs, cows, and chickens.  His childhood was filled with hard work and few luxuries. He often talked about how he couldn’t wait to get out of the farm life.

December 1, 1960, Dennis enlisted in the Army.  For part of his service, he was stationed in El Paso, Texas.  Up until his death, he would always check the newspaper to see what the temperature was in El Paso, commenting on how hot and miserable this location was during his active duty.  Another part of his service was stationed in Michigan, where he was able to date his future bride. He was Honorable Discharged September 1964, receiving citations for:  Good Conduct Medal, Sharpshooter-Rifle, and Sharpshooter-Carbine.

On April 6, 1963, Dennis married his soulmate, Barbara Creek in Lansing, Michigan.  The happy couple were married 59 years fabulous years.  They continued to love and care for each other, enduring hardships, and sharing everything.  They raised two daughters, Kimberly, and Kelly. The couple used their wit and sense of humor to spice up life even through the hard times.  They shared love for living in the country with fresh air, the sounds of nature, and Dennis insisting on setting out a garden every year.  This meant that Kim and Kelly had to pick up rocks to prepare the soil, mysteriously those rocks return ever year!

In 1965, after marrying and leaving the Army, Dennis and his bride moved to Illinois where they had their first child.  He enrolled at the Southern Illinois University, earning an Associate Degree in Automotive Technology.  It was from his education that he was thrilled to find what he called the “perfect job” at Indiana Bell. He was so proud of driving the Bell Truck and having the independence the job gave him.  He also made some lifelong friendships during this time in his life that still last to this day.

Life is a pendulum that swings between joys and tears.

On September 7, 1977, Dennis headed to work riding his motorcycle.  He recalled waving to his wife who was also traveling to work on I-70 as he was on the side road.  His memory faded from that moment as he was in a near fatal motorcycle crash, breaking many of the bones in both legs, his arms…..  A good Samaritan saw him lying in the field and stop and called for help (we didn’t have cell phones in those days -so this took some effort).  The doctors were amazed that he survived the accident, praising him for wearing his helmet.

Dennis remained in the hospital through the blizzard of ’78. He endured many surgeries and was told he would never walk again.  He returned home in a wheelchair. This was a dark time in his life, filled with pain, anger, and regret.

He leaned on the strength of his wife, who pushed him to get up and live life.   Following years of rehabilitation, physical therapy, pain management, Dennis was able to walk with braces and crutches.  Dennis was an original “stay at home dad” for his two young daughters. He made sure to teach his girls to cook and make sure dinner was on the table before his wife returned home from work. Life was swinging towards the many “Joys” in life once again.

Dennis grew up loving cars.  He fixed up many vehicles in the “BARN” (the original Man Cave) and shared his expert advice (along with his sense of humor-free of charge!)  for anyone that asked.  He prided himself on making sure that his two daughters always had a functioning car to drive. He wanted to care and provide for his family in the ways he knew how.

He also shined when he finished restoring a classic 48 Chevy Truck.  The man loved trucks!  He didn’t feel complete unless there was a truck in the driveway and a tractor in the barn.  The joy of working with his hands led to various projects such as remodeling the house, making planter boxes, doll houses, and various bird houses that are still in the backyard.

As the girls got older, the family started to grow with new family members that changed over time…many grandchildren and eventually great grandchildren.  He loved sharing his joy of tractors.  Tractor rides and eventually driving one — was “a rite of passage” in the Creek House.  So many outdoor activities with the girls and their children.

He loved to hunt and fish. He enjoyed the sport of hunting with a cross-action bow and arrow.   It was from the love and support of good friends that he was able to go out on the boat fishing, and hunting deer and turkey. For many years, he would host the “Burn Out in the back yard. This is where his friends would hang out around the fire, have a good drink, and tell those TALL Tales -the bigger the story the better.  Men only time!

Dennis had a great love for laughter.  He loved to tease and joke with others. He expected you to arrive with a good sense of humor and a cheer when you came to his house. He often would give those close to him nicknames, like Wally, Chet and Goofer –just a few memorable names I recall from childhood.  So, if you were one of the lucky ones to have a new name, it meant you were extra special to him….or maybe he just couldn’t remember your real name….only you know for sure!

The last few months, he would talk about how thankful he was for the close friendships of Doyle, Russ, JR, Mike, Blanche, and Dave….and others that would call or stop by for a visit or to check in on him.  He had a very special visit from Christopher.  Once you were in his family, you were always family. He would often say how much JOY it brought when others would call him or visit, showing how they thought of him, particularly after losing his wife in April this year.  He would often say that you were lucky to be able to count your closest friends on one hand.  He commented the most important thing to him, and his wife was raising his two girls. Of course, this extended to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the years.

In closing, the family wanted to extend our appreciation and many blessings to Suburban Hospice staff for their kindness and compassion in the care of Dennis.  Particular thanks:  to Kathleen, who brought him even closer to God and helped him find inner peace; to Lee, who kept dad straight every day, and did the impossible with her nursing skills; to Linda, who provided the extra touches of love and care to him and the cleaning;  to Darlene, who won him over with a good dinner and long conversations reading the newspaper with and to him at the end;  and to Abbi, there are not enough words, Luv, to express how much you meant to him, you filled the home with laughter and humor, and he looked forward to your visits and stories you would bring  Thank you all so much for your grace and compassion in his transition to heaven.