Dennis Otto Fatland's Obituary
Dennis Otto Fatland passed away in his sleep on June 8 in Fircrest Washington. He was 81. Born February 7, 1937 Dennis grew up in Tacoma, graduating from Lincoln High School before going on to earn a Bachelors degree from Pacific Lutheran University and a Masters of Science from the University of Oregon. There he met his future wife, Jan, to whom he was married for 37 years before her passing in 1999. His career extended for over thirty years as a mathematics teacher in both the Tacoma public school system and at Pacific Lutheran University.
He coached basketball and golf, enjoyed fishing for salmon in Puget Sound and loved to explore the Pacific Northwest with his family and friends. Belonging to the era of humanity that first went to the moon, Dennis held a strong sense of wonder at the grand adventures made possible by the disciplined, rational and successful nature of mathematics and science. This wonder and enthusiasm he gladly shared with his students as they prepared for and took flight on their own grand adventures.
Dennis was preceded in death by his wife Janet Ruth Fatland and by his brother Richard. He is survived by his sister Marlys, by his children Nikki (Tony), Kirsten (Margaret), and Rob (Erica), and by his grandchildren Alexandra and Isabella, in whom he took great delight. Private services will be held on Friday June 15.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Tacoma Public Schools Help A Student Fund (http://tacomaschools.org/partnerships).
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