DENNIS WAIBEL (from Las Vegas Review Journal, Jun 28, 2006. pg. 6.B)

Dennis "Denny" Ray Waibel, 49, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2006. He was born in Quincy, Ill, Sept. 20, 1956. He arrived in Las Vegas 17 years ago with his wife and children from Texas where he learned to wear cowboy hats and cook a "mean" steak. As a young civil engineer he came to work in the "fastest growing city in the nation" and for the last eight years was the managing principal of the Las Vegas office of Carter & Burgess, Inc., an engineering/ architectural firm. The office grew from 15 employees to over 150 under his leadership. He expected much from the people with whom he worked but in return gave them loyalty, compassion, and sense of humor. He often talked about the importance of family and to his own family he gave his all. His wife of almost 25 years was his partner and friend. His children were his treasure and he enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He was a man who loved life and wanted to live every day to the fullest. His dreams of living in a cabin in the mountains and of traveling to far- off lands to hunt and explore were cut short by a tragic auto accident. He will be missed for his impulsiveness, knee-slapping laugh, generosity and zest for life. Dennis is survived by his loving wife, Monica; three children, Nicholas of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Julie and Kayla, both of Henderson; parents, Donnie and Joyce Waibel of Sherman, Ill.; siblings, Denise (Robert) Rycek of Kearney, Neb., and Melinda (Kyle) Mayhall of Wilmington, Ill., Bertin (Lucinda) of Greenview, Ill., and Brian (Banjo) of Camden, Ill.; in- laws, Tibor and Elisabeth Gartner of St. Donat, Austria; brother-in- law, Christopher Gartner of Antibes, France; nieces and nephews, David, Jenna, Jessica, Zach, Ofie and John. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, June 30, at St. Thomas More Catholic Community, 130 N. Pecos Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Family Promise of Las Vegas (helping homeless families), P.O. Box 270128, Las Vegas, NV 89127. (702)638-8806, or Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, P.O. Box 8249, Missoula, MT 59807. (406)523-4500