Celebration of Life for Lorraine Denk and John G. Pacheco

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OTIS H. CHIDESTER SCOUT MUSEUM

OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

For Departed Scouters and

Charter Museum Members

LORRAINE M. DENK

and

JOHN G. PACHECO

MAY 17, 2015

2:00 P.M.

O.H.C. SCOUT MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

1937 E. Blacklidge Dr.

Tucson, AZ 85719

PROGRAM

Musical Prelude: Battle Hymn of the Republic

Amazing Grace

Welcome: James Klein, President, Otis H. Chidester

Scout Museum of Southern Arizona

Invocation

Presentation of the Colors

Reflections on the important contributions to Scouting and to the Otis H. Chidester Scout Museum of Southern Arizona made by Lorraine Marie Denk and John G. Pacheco

Call to the Audience

Retirement of the Colors and Taps

Gene and Lorraine Denk on January 25, 1985, when she received a 1984 Silver Beaver Award from Catalina CouncilLorraine Marie Denk was born on May 24, 1934, in California. She died at the age of 80, on March 30, 2015, in San Luis Obispo, to which California city she and her husband Gene had retired in the mid-1990s. She was the mother of 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys, who survived to adulthood.

Her involvement in Scouting started in California, where she was involved both in the Girl Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America. While still in California, Lorraine attended Wood Badge and received her Wood Badge Beads in 1977. She received the District Award of Merit in Santa Clara County Council in 1979. After moving to Tucson with her husband Gene in September 1980, Lorraine continued her involvement in Scouting in Catalina Council’s Fort Lowell District (now part of the Spanish Trails District), where she served as a Unit Commissioner and as Fort Lowell District Training Chairman. In addition to being on several Wood Badge training staffs, Lorraine served on committees involved with organizing Scout-O-Ramas, Pimarees, Show-an-doos, and Train the Trainers. She was a 1984 recipient of the Silver Beaver Award from Catalina Council.

Lorraine was a charter member of the Otis H. Chidester Scout Museum of Southern Arizona and was Secretary of the founding Board of Directors. She authored the Oath of Office, which is still used at the time of the Museum’s annual elections and installations.

Lorraine is survived by her husband Gene and seven children.

Remembrance of my wife Lorraine

By Gene Denk

Gene and Lorraine Denk on February 2, 1979, when he received a 1978 Silver Beaver Award from Santa Clara County (California) CounciIn 1957, when I was on a summer break from Cal Poly University, I found what I thought was a temporary job driving18-wheelers for Charles Jones Trucking in Paso Robles, California. I did not know that Charley had 3 single adult daughters whose mother told Lorraine about “this new driver with a deep voice”.

It was only a matter of days before Lorraine showed up on the trucking lot and introduced herself to me. From there, after a few more days, I asked Charley if he would mind if I dated his daughter Lorraine. He agreed, and she agreed, and we scheduled a date. When that day

came, he and I were loading 2 rigs with about 50 tons of alfalfa hay and, late in the day, we had a problem that made me an hour late for

my date. Lorraine has always said that she could’t get upset with me, because I was with her father.

Lorraine was 23 years of age and I was 25 -- and we hit it off right away. We courted for a few months and married on December 28 of that year, 1957, 57 years ago. When I graduated with a BS in Mathematics, she was awarded a PHT degree (Pushing Hubby Through). We both wanted to have a sizeable family, gave birth to 6 girls and 3 boys, and raised 7 of them (Jerome and Janet both died in infancy).

Lorraine was always my “bride,” for 57 years, and was loved and respected by all. As an adult with 50% Chumash Indian blood, she was given the name “Gentle Rain,” and from that time on, she was known as “Rainy.” On the day of her funeral service we had a couple hours of gentle rain.

Lorraine exemplified the definition of “volunteer,” as a Girl Scout leader, 25 years as a trainer of Boy Scout leaders (and served as a Wood Badge staffer), religion teacher, retreat worker, long-term Bible student, and as a Benedictine Oblate in her church.

Lorraine was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about

5 years ago and succumbed to complications of it on March 30, 2015.

Lorraine will be remembered, more than anything else, by her gentle ways and her trademark smile. 

Lorraine Marie Denk’s farewell to her family:
I want a very simple service, celebrate my life. Material things are not important to me. I enjoyed my volunteer work, for my church, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, but my pride and joy will always be my family. Enjoy your memories. I know you will grieve, but I pray now, while I am still able, that it won’t be for long. I will leave you in God’s loving hands as I move on to do God’s will. He will help you; just remember to ask, but be patient. When the time is right, I will join Janet and Jerry – our family saints – and meet our little grandsaints, and greet our parents and other departed loved ones. We are so proud of all of you.

If Dad dies after I do, I will say. “Welcome home Genie,” but if he dies before me, I’ll say, “it’s great to see you, Long Legs.” Until we meet in Heaven… — Love, Mom.

John Pacheco on February 6, 2010, celebrating the 100th Birthday (Feb. 8, 2010) of the Boy Scouts of America at the Scout MuseumJohn G. Pacheco was born in Tucson on September 11, 1959, and died in the same city on April 12, 2015. As a Cub Scout in Pack 298, sponsored by the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, he earned the Arrow of Light Award in 1970. He became an Eagle Scout in Troop 201, sponsored by Elks Lodge # 385, in March 1975. His father was the Scoutmaster. He earned 2 Silver Palms, indicative of 30 merit badges beyond the 21 required for Eagle, and also his church’s religious award.

As a youth, John was Chief of Papago Lodge, Order of the Arrow; as an adult, he served as a Chapter Advisor for many years and received the Vigil Honor Degree in 1990. He completed Wood Badge training in 1986, and later served on multiple Wood Badge training staffs. He was Scoutmaster of both Troop 201 and 122 for several years at the same time. He received the Distinguished Commissioner Award from Spanish Trails District in 2001, and served multiple terms as Assistant District Commissioner. He attended 3 National Jamborees, including 2 as an adult leader, and 6 Pimarees, including 4 as a Scoutmaster. He received the Spanish Trails District Award of Merit in 2000, and the Silver Beaver Award from Catalina Council in 2002.

He was a charter member of the Otis H. Chidester Scout Museum of Southern Arizona and received the Scout Museum’s Otis H. Chidester Memorial Award in 2007. John served for many years on the Scout Museum’s Board of Directors and was a Director at the time of his premature death.

He is survived by his wife Irene, his two parents, and two brothers.

Remembrance of my husband John

By Irene Pacheco

John Pacheco at the Scout Museum on October 1, 2003Thirty five years ago, John and I began our life journey together.

Little did I know that I was marrying the Boy Scouts as well. From all the weekends, weekly meetings, Camporees, Pimarees and Ordeals, I learned how important the Boy Scouts were to John.

He was a man of strong conviction and dedication. He always took his roles very seriously. Although we never had children, John, I think, felt that Boy Scouts, in some way, fulfilled the role.

I was hesitant to ask John what came first: Boy Scouts or me? I think I knew the answer!

Even when his health began to decline, he would somehow make time for Roundtables and the Museum.

John was an inquisitive, thoughtful and selfless man. He kept me anchored. And he was always more concerned about everyone else around him than himself.

He will not be forgotten.

The Otis H. Chidester Scout Museum of Southern Arizona dates to 1984, when it was founded by Otis H. Chidester (1903-1997). A self-described packrat, Otis had preserved many of the Scouting- related items which he had acquired since he became a Boy Scout on September 8, 1912, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. Otis had attended a Weekend Wood Badge Course (WE5-11-84) in the fall of 1984, at Catalina Council’s Double V Scout Ranch, located just west of Cat Mountain in the Tucson Mountains. Otis’s ticket, the completion of which was necessary to receive his Wood Badge Beads, required that he formalize the Scout Museum, which he had nurtured informally for several decades. Otis enlisted the help and participation of a number of his friends and associates, with the result that the Museum was incorporated in January 1986. Six years later, and over the opposition of Otis himself, the Board of Directors added his name to the Museum’s official title.

The Museum is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(C) 3 charitable foundation. Its purpose is to collect, preserve, and exhibit items, documents, photographs, and memorabilia relating to the Boy Scout movement, with special emphasis on Southern Arizona. The Museum’s official publication, the Museum Dispatch, is published 3-4 times a year. The Museum’s extensive collections are available for research. For those wishing to visit the Museum, please call 795-9484 so that a docent- conducted tour can be scheduled. There is no admission charge, but, contributions are always welcome. Membership is open to all.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2015

Curator: Luis D. Romero

President: James Klein, M.D.

Vice President: Todd Scholer

Treasurer: Dr. James Gruhl

Secretary: Gowher R. Jamshedi

Directors: Robert Favuzza

Suzanne Flax

Michael D. Maynard

John G. Pacheco

OTIS H. CHIDESTER SCOUT MUSEUM

OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

1937 E. Blacklidge Drive

Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 795-9484 www.azscoutmuseum.com

Additional Resources:

 Lorraine Denk on 1/19/1990 at Catalina Council Annual Recognition DinnerLorraine Denk on 1/19/1990 at Catalina Council Annual Recognition Dinner