Lifelong Grays Harbor resident Dennis Dean Harke passed away
Thursday, September 1, 2022 in Puyallup. He was 62.
Dennis was born April 1, 1960 in Aberdeen, Washington to David and
Guilynn (Rhoden) Harke. He was raised in Cosmopolis and graduated
from Aberdeen High School in 1978. He then learned the carpentry
trade at Grays Harbor College under the mentorship of Chet Ekman.
Dennis started and ran his own company, Harke Construction, from
1980 to 2008; he most recently worked for McMeekin Construction,
with a team of craftsmen that he thoroughly enjoyed working with each
day.
Dennis loved watching old westerns – a few of his favorites were Gun
Smoke, The Rifleman, and Big Jake – and researching the history behind
the fictionalized events. Fun fact: A lot of productions used historically
inaccurate props and Dennis was not afraid to call them out!
Woodworking was Dennis' passion and he loved repurposing
woodworking equipment into art to display. He took inspiration from
Greene & Greene craftsmanship, especially The Gamble House.
Dennis had a fond appreciation of the development of infrastructure
and often utilized Google Earth to compare photos of cities and
buildings then and now.
He was a member of the Lions Club of Aberdeen.
Dennis is remembered by friends and family alike as a fun and loving
individual who cared deeply for those around him. He was a reliable,
honest, and creative man.
Dennis is survived by his loving wife Marilyn Harke of the family home;
two sons David of Aberdeen and Devan (Sheena) of Kirkland; his mother Guilynn
Harke of Cosmopolis; brother David (Debbie) Harke of Salem, Oregon

and sister Dawndi (Joe) Hanson of Spokane, WA; nephew, Ross (Teresa)
Harke, and nieces Jai (Scotty) Harke-Rogers, Dannica (Brian) Shaffer and
Haliegh Hanson as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A celebration of life is planned for Friday, September 16 th 2022 at Grays
Harbor Foursquare Church at 1pm.
Memorials are suggested to the Brain Injury Association of Washington,
American Heart Association, Children's Heart Association or Pasado's
Safe Haven.