Denis Armand Pettee

Denis Armand Pettee, Sr., 77, of Rotonda West FL, formerly Toledo, OH, passed away peacefully in his home on September 28, 2025.

He was born on September 13, 1948, in Toledo OH to Francis Walter Pettee and Dorothy Virginia (Ashford) Pettee. He was the first born of seven children: David, Michael, Stephen, John, Joseph, Maria and Laura. He loved his siblings and was always proud of them.

In his early years he played the violin and was in the Central Catholic High School Glee Club. After graduating, he began working for the Penn Central Railroad. However, he soon joined the United States Air Force and proudly served his country in Vietnam and Germany, during the tumultuous Vietnam Era. Denis met his ex-wife, Karin (Hassel) Pettee while stationed in Germany. They met dancing, which started their 20-year marriage that gave them their 5 wonderful children. Denis also enjoyed higher education and obtained his Bachelor’s at the University of Toledo.

His whole career he was a highly trusted pilot and earned his commercial pilot license early in his flight career. He also was a flight instructor for many aspiring pilots. Denis was also a long-time conductor/yard master for Penn Central Railroad. On top of his many careers, he was a Systems Administrator. Denis always wanted to help the mobility impaired community and did so by winning two patents to make motorized wheelchairs move better, through propulsion and superior mounting brackets.

Denis enjoyed flying, fishing, fine dining and a good bowl of ice cream. He was a dog lover, and named all of his dogs “Lucky.” No doubt to take away the sting of losing them over the years. Above all, he was firm in his Catholic faith and tried to be truly devout.

Denis was preceded in death by his parents, his brother David W. Pettee, Sr., nephew David W. Pettee, Jr. and sister in-law Pamela (Miller) Pettee.

Denis is survived by his ex-wife, Karin (Hassel) Pettee; children, Yvonne and Sabine (Jette and Senta) Pfeiffer, Yvette (Naia Renée Quigley and Desmond René Quigley) Renée, Denis (Emma, Gavin, Laila) Hassel, Melanie Hassel and Kevin Newman (husband), and Christina Pettee and Greg Phillips (fiancé.)

Denis is also survived by his siblings: Michael R. and Vickie (Delahoussay), Stephen and Mary Jane (Emmenecker), John L. and Holie, Joseph L. and Mary (Gdowik), Maria C. (Pettee) and Brent Martin, and Laura A. (Pettee) and Stanley J. Garrett and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family will be received on Thursday, October 2, 2025  from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant Street, Maumee with a Rosary at 6:00 p.m.. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Calvary. 

Memorial contributions may be made in Denis’ name to Mobile Meals of Toledo, Inc. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.