Dennis Charles Sidener, Enterprise
Obituary | Dennis C. Sidener of Enterprise, Kansas | Wilson Family Funeral Home
October 18, 1936 - August 23, 2021
Dennis Charles Sidener was born to Leo and Ruth Sidener in Ada, Kansas on October 18, 1936, the middle of five children. He grew up in the small town of Ada as Denny, knowing every single resident in Ada and many of the farmers in the surrounding area. As a younger boy, he helped his Grandfather Sidener deliver dairy milk greeting each house member by name. He attended both grade and high school in Ada, participating in all sports, staying after practice to help his father who was school custodian. He was baptized in the Ada Antioch Baptist Church at an early age attending services every Sunday. The summer he was nine (9), he hired out to a rural farm family to do chores around the farm which developed into a full-time summer’s job on a tractor, running the combine or wheat hauling throughout high school and college. Any extra time was spent with his Aunt Doii and husband Louie helping on their livestock and agriculture farm.
After graduating from Ada High, he entered college at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas wanting to become a school teacher to help kids learn and become good citizens. During his four years at Fort Hay States, he worked at a restaurant and grill. Most weekends, he returned home working Saturdays at the local elevator and dating a girl in Delphos.
He was united in marriage to Laurel Mauk at the United Methodist Church in Delphos, Kansas on June 9, 1957, and had one son, Bradley.
Following his 1958 college graduation from Fort Hays State, he moved to Agenda, Kansas to begin his career of teaching woodworking and coaching high school football, basketball, and track. During his three years in Agenda, he and wife Laurel were regular attendees at the Agenda Methodist Church where they were high school youth group sponsors recruiting area students.
He moved to Enterprise, Kansas in the fall of 1961 for a one-year position at Enterprise High School followed by a transfer in the fall of 1962 to the Chapman, Kansas school district as junior high woodworking teacher, soon expanding the curriculum to industrial arts, and was the high school football coach, and 8th grade basketball and track coach. He soon was known throughout the county as “Coach” or “Coach Sidener ” who was a tough disciplinarian but fair. It was his personal joy every day to know he had encouraged and taught at least one of “his boys” not just the sport or classroom subject but something to help them become a better person and citizen.
Continuing his education, he graduated from Kansas State University the summer of 1965 with a master of science degree. Pursuing additional education, he attended classes at Kansas State, Emporia State, Pittsburg State and Wichita State. He was Kansas Board of Education certified in industrial arts, comp. (jr. and sr. high level), general science (jr. high level), driver education (jr. and sr. high level), physical education, (jr. and sr. high level), English (jr. high level), and school counselor (kindergarten through sr. high level).
Realizing the importance of guidance needed by junior high-level students and obtaining his school counselor certificate at K-State, he changed his career in the fall of 1981 from classroom teacher to guidance counselor at Chapman Junior High until his 1998 retirement. He was recognized as the 1991 Master Teacher for Unified School District #473 (Chapman, KS).
He spent summers doing home building and remodeling construction while attending classes and coaching summer boys’ baseball. After obtaining his driver education certificate, he then began teaching driver’s education for the Chapman district in the summer of 1980 until retirement.
In his local community, he was elected and served on the Enterprise City Council. He was an ardent blood donator to the blood mobile every time the mobile unit was in Chapman, Enterprise or Abilene, donating a total of 165 units.
He resided in Enterprise for 55 years, attending the Enterprise United Methodist Church where he served as a trustee, on the administrative council, many committees, and a ready volunteer for most of the church needs and functions.
He was very proud of his two granddaughters and his three grandsons who were his extraordinary delight from babies to grown young men. He savored every moment of play and teaching them, attending their activities, and being part of their lives.
Dennis and wife Laurel relocated to Manhattan, Kansas for their retirement home the spring of 2017 to be near son Brad and wife Marilyn.
Dennis was a member of Enterprise United Methodist Church, Phi Delta Kappa, National Education Association, Kansas National Education Association, Fort Hays State University Alumni Association, Kansas State University Alumni Association, Isis Shriners International of Salina, and Enterprise Masonic Lodge.
Dennis is survived by his wife Laurel, son Brad Sidener and wife Marilyn, five grandchildren: Rachelle Swearingen and husband Ray, Sara Meng and husband Justin, Matthew Sidener and wife Brooke, Theodore Budden and wife Emily and Mark Sidener; and six great grandchildren; two brothers: Richard Sidener and wife Lucille and Rodney Sidener; sister Charlene Nichols; and other nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Norma Prochaska and husband Albert (Pro), sister-in-law Betty Sidener and brother-in-law Harold Nichols.
Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 p.m.. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 27 at Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Funeral services will be at 11:00 Saturday, August 28 at the Enterprise United Methodist Church, Enterprise. Graveside services will at 3:00 p.m. at Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Memorials may be made to the Enterprise United Methodist Church, Enterprise, Chapman Irish Foundation, Chapman, or Good Shepard Homecare and Hospice, Manhattan and may be left in care of Wilson Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 166, Minneapolis, KS 67467.
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