Dennis Craig Vincent

Wasilla resident since 1975, Dennis Craig Vincent, 71, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, on February 10, 2019, at Mat-Su Regional Hospital, Alaska.

Dennis was born in National City, CA near San Diego on March 8th, 1947 to Kathryn (Ledyard) Schmall and Clyde Vincent. Dennis’s family moved to Alaska in 1960 where he experienced the 1964 earthquake while working at Center Bowl and attended Wendler and East HS in Anchorage. He played football and held track records for many years. Dennis met his sweetheart, Mary (Marsh) Vincent, in June 1969 at the Airport Post Office where they worked. They got married 6 weeks later, almost 50 years ago, and became proud parents of Gina and Ty Vincent. Dennis had been an MP in the Army, so he naturally entered the Dept of Corrections in 1970 and left in 1986 as a prison superintendent. He was also a Real Estate Broker for Vincent RE Consultants from 1983 to 1997. He enjoyed camping, fishing, bowling, sports, gambling, cooking, and bunny wrangling. While in the US Army from March 1966 until Dec 1968, Dennis served as a Buck Sergeant in the General’s 118th MP Company at Fort Bragg, NC and as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles when deployed to Vietnam. He fought for 9 months in the jungle, leading his troops thru a minefield and carrying wounded soldiers to safety. He jumped into over 50 heliborne assaults and was awarded 8 medals for valor to include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Air Medal and the Silver Star. He is entitled to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He also wrote an engaging story about his life. Dennis’s family saw him as “an incredibly caring and compassionate man with a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him. He had an unassuming strength, high intelligence, innate sense of humor, and unwavering faith in God. His top priority was to provide security and stability for his family. He was a content homebody who said he "was transitioning from a recluse to a hermit." He has left a gigantic void for many with his passing and will be missed terribly, but we know he is now at peace with God.”

Dennis is survived by his wife, Mary (Marsh) Vincent, his daughter, Dr Gina M Vincent of Worcester, MA, his son, Dr Ty R Vincent of Kona, HI, his 8 grandchildren, Lexi, Isaac, Olivia, Sage, Maya, Ava, Bodhi, and Frankie; his sister Ruth Graham, brother Phil Vincent, and 5 nieces and nephews, Darlene Mielke, Kathryn Anderson, Jim Teremi, Erick and Mark Vincent and their families.

A Viewing for family and close friends will be held on Friday, February 22nd at 4 p.m. at the Valley Funeral Home, 151 W Herning Ave in Wasilla off Lucille St.

Dennis's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 23rd at 2 pm at the Church on the Rock Palmer at 619 E Scott Rd off the Glenn Hwy; Pastor Chris Miller officiating. We will have an uplifting slideshow, memorabilia, catered snacks and live music by Troubadora.

Dennis will be interred at Fort Richardson National Cemetery in July 2019 with full military honors. Donations may be made to VFW Post 9365 at PO Box 872000, Wasilla, AK 99687.