Jack Denis Obituary

JACK D. DENIS Jack D. Denis, 77, of Kailua, passed away on January 7, 2025 at St. Francis Hospice Nu'uanu. After graduating from Farrington High School in 1965, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a Radioman in the Vietnam war from December, 1966 to January 1968. After the service, Jack worked for a few years at Hawaiian Telephone Co. before joining the Honolulu Fire Department in 1976. During his career Jack responded to many incidents, two of the most memorable were Tyke the circus elephant at the Neal Blaisdell Center on August 20, 1994, and the Kaka'ako shooter on July 26, 1996. He spent a number of years as an AOT (Apparatus Operation Training) instructor with the Pump Certification Program and was instrumental in expanding and improving the program. Jack retired as a Captain in 2002, with 27 years of distinguished service. Jack was an avid volleyball player and coach. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, traveling, his favorite destination Las Vegas, singing and playing music. He especially loved technology and would spend hours playing computer games, his iPad and iPhone always nearby. He was known for his quick wit and talked straight, whether you wanted to hear it or not. Jack was a great story teller and would relate incidents of his growing up in Red Hill Veterans Housing, as well as his time in the military and Fire Department. He was an avid creator of "Jack Denis" sayings for many of his "antics" during his life, keeping his family and friends in sore-stomach laughter. Jack is survived by his wife Donna; daughter Kaelene (Michael) Wong; twin sons Keaka Denis, and Kaniela (Christina) Denis; grandchildren Jacob Denis-Lui, Justice Denis-Lui, Caitlin Bermudo, and Daniel Denis. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at Hawaiian Memorial Park Chapel, Kaneohe. Visitation: 10:00am; Services: 11:00am. Inurnment: 2:00pm at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.