Dennis Joel Gaede was born on May 1, 1940, in Bakersfield, California. He was the first of three children born to Leonard Gaede and Evelyn Unruh Gaede, faithful parents, who provided a loving and nurturing home life for their children in Shafter, California. Growing up, Dennis was always an excellent student and especially enjoyed his math and science classes. He graduated with honors from Shafter High School in 1958, earning a lifetime membership in the California Scholarship Federation. During these early years, Dennis also took an interest in playing tennis and studying the piano, two pursuits that he continued to enjoy and put to use throughout his entire life. After graduating from Shafter High School in 1958, he attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, graduating in 1962. It was there he met and married his wife of almost 50 years, Helen Marie Pankratz Gaede. In 1966, Dennis went on to earn a Doctorate in Chemistry from Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas. He then taught for two years at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. In 1968, Dennis and Helen, along with their two young children, returned to Shafter, where Dennis was able to put his Chemistry degree to use, working for several local companies. In recent years Dennis has served as an accompanist for choirs at Shafter High School, Richland Junior High, and North Kern Christian School. He also has served as organist at a number of local churches, the most recent being the Methodist Church of Wasco, where he loved playing the pipe organ. Dennis was a member of the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church, the Kiwanis Club of Shafter, the Shafter Historical Society, the Kern County Organ Guild, and the West Coast Mennonite Men's Chorus. He was also a faithful attendee of his weekly Men's Bible Study. When not engaged in these pursuits, he could often be seen riding his bicycle throughout the streets of Shafter or stopping to have a cup of coffee along the way with other locals from the community. Dennis was taken suddenly from this life to meet his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 23, 2011. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Helen Gaede, son Randy Gaede of Arvin, daughter Rhonda Gaede of Fresno, sister Marilyn Gaede Bergman of Shafter, brother and wife, Stan and Judy Gaede, of Wenham, Massachusetts, along with three aunts, one uncle, and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their spouses. Dennis will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Memorial donations may be made in Dennis Gaede's name to any of the following organizations: West Coast Mennonite Men's Chorus, Kiwanis Club of Shafter, or Shafter Historical Society. A funeral service will be held Monday, February 28, at 2pm at Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church. Pastor Pat Coyle will officiate the service and interment will follow at Shafter Memorial Park. A visitation will be held at Peters Funeral Home on Sunday, February 27, from 4pm to 8pm.