Funeral Mass for Rev. Dennis L. Deis O.M.I., 74, of Sisseton, SD will be May 8, 2012 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt, SD. Celebrating will be Rev. Fr. Jim Brobst O.M.I. with Bishop Paul J. Swain in attendance. Organist and Song Leader will be Lana Sand and Austin Eggers. Lector will be Arnie Braun. Pallbearers will be Curt Braun, Tom Vergeldt, Myron Foltz, Franny Renelt, Gregg Wieser, Jerry Braun, Keith Pohl, and Neil Fritz. Interment will be in the St. Henry's Oblate Cemetery, Belleville, IL. Visitation will be on May 7, 2012 at the Cahill Funeral Chapel in Sisseton, SD from 12:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. and at the St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service and one hour prior to funeral service on Tuesday. The Cahill Funeral Chapel of Sisseton, SD is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Dennis L. Deis was born on August 22, 1937 to Anthony and Magdalena (Fix) Deis in Onaka, SD. He grew up and attended school in Onaka, SD and entered into the Carthage, Mo. Oblates Mission seminary in high school. He joined the O.M.I. in 1960 and made his first profession. He attended Oblate Seminary of Our Lady of the Snows in Pass Christian, MS and studied Theology at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. His final profession was in 1963. He was ordained December 18, 1965 in Belleville, IL. Fr. Dennis's assignments were at Assumption Parrish in Bloomington, MN, he then came to Sisseton and was Pastor at St. Catherine's. Rev. Dennis then served the St. James Parrish in Duluth, MN, and Christ the King Retreat House in Buffalo, MN. He then served St. Peter's Parrish in Sisseton, SD the Holy Cross Parrish in Orr, MN and then served St. Thomas Church in International Falls, MN. Rev. Dennis then came to St. John's in Rosholt, SD where he was currently serving. He celebrated his 50th Jubilee in 2011 at St. John's Catholic Church in Rosholt, SD. Fr. Dennis was the third Deis member of the Onaka Community to enter into the priesthood, preceded by Fr. Mike Deis and Fr. Kasper Deis. Fr. Dennis enjoyed gardening and spending time outdoors. He especially enjoyed spending time with his parishioners. He also enjoyed the Oblate Cabin at Crane Lake, playing Canasta and Saturday Morning Breakfast at the Connection. He was also a first degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Fr. Dennis passed away on May 4, 2012 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
Fr. Dennis is survived by sister in-law Phyllis Deis of Onaka, SD, nephew Douglas and Peggy Deis and family, niece Radelle Deis all of Sioux Falls, SD, aunt Helen DeRosier and family of Florida, special cousins, Linda and Gary Schaefer and family of Pierre, SD, Dan and Deb Deis and family of Watertown, SD, David and Joan Deis and family of Corrales, NM, Diane Deis and family of Mascoutah, IL, and many Deis cousins in California.
He was preceded by his parents and only sibling Leonard Deis all of Onaka, SD.
The family of Fr. Dennis would like to thank the Rosholt and Sisseton Communities and all the other places he served for their gift of friendship and support through his life and ministry.