Dennis John Treitler

Dennis was born on February 23, 1946, to Herbert Oliver Treitler (23) and Lucille Reynolds Treitler (21) in Orleans Parish. At the time, Dennis’ father was a patrolman in the U.S. Navy during WWII, which had just ended a few months before Dennis was born. Dennis was the first of four children.

After high school he joined the U.S. Navy, where he learned many skills that he would later use in his career as a fisherman and hunter in the marshes and lakes of lower St. Bernard Parish. Dennis was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.

After the war, Dennis married Bonnie, and started a family down in lower St. Bernard. Together they raised four children: Lynette, Dennis Jr, Stacey and Christian.

Dennis enjoyed hunting and fishing recreationally with his father, brothers, sons and grandsons, but also made a career out of hunting, trapping and crab fishing. He hunted ducks and alligators, and trapped nutria. He learned how to tan the alligator and nutria skins to sell to market, and would process the meat to sell as well. He also spent many early mornings setting and picking up crab traps all over Lakes Ponchartrain, Borgne and Catherine, and was forever dealing with poachers emptying or stealing his traps. He was constantly having to make new traps to replace his traps. He also harvested and sold softshell crabs, and invited whoever was over at the right time to watch the crabs slowly wriggle themselves out of their old shells to grow in size safely in his tanks.

Dennis also had a talent for carving and painting wooden duck decoys and duck calls, winning many contests with his beautiful creations. He even taught carving for a while at both Chalmette and Delgado Community Colleges.

He was known for his skills in the kitchen as well, as he loved cooking, baking and boiling seafood. He had been trained as a baker, making and decorating cakes for a living at one time, and then would make them as generous gifts to family and friends. He did some gardening, growing vegetables and flowers, and enjoyed pickling various things for himself, and to give away.

In 1995, Dennis married Althea Fraychineaud, of St. Bernard Parish, who was then living in Pearl River, La. After moving there he spent many years as a volunteer minister as a Jehovah’s Witness with the Pearl River congregation. There he met and cultivated lifelong friendships. Dennis and Althea had just celebrated their 29th anniversary on June 10th of this year.

As he got older, Dennis cherished his time more with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his many friends. He was always on the phone or receiving visits from family and friends, or even decoy collectors looking to commission him to create his much sought after wooden duck decoys to add to their collections. If you ever had the opportunity to overhear his conversations, you’d hear some interesting nicknames for those he chatted with, such as Beaver, Poopie, Scoopy, Chicken Wing, Dink and of course, Sweet Heart!

Dennis passed away on July 25, 2024, at the age of 78, after a twenty year battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his grandson, Joshua Matthew Treitler.

Dennis leaves behind his loving wife Althea Fraychineaud Treitler. His children Lynette T. Vogel (Carey), Dennis J. Treitler Jr. (Diona), Stacey Treitler, and Christian Treitler, as well as his step-son, Bobby Baudier Jr (Aimee) and step-daughter, Danielle Shifflett (Timothy). He also leaves behind his siblings Herbert Oliver Treitler Jr. (Linda), John “Beaver” Treitler (Darlene), and Carol Anne Treitler Fife (David), as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with his step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dennis, Den, Dad, Paw Paw, Pops #2, you will be greatly missed by us all who cherished you, and you us.

The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to them during this hour of bereavement.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 64211 LA-3081, Pearl River, LA 70452 on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at 3:00PM. Care has been entrusted to Bagnell & Son Funeral Home.