Denis was born in Oakdale, California to Mary Chloe Cotter and Joseph Miles Rinehart. He moved his family to Humboldt County in 1986 to get out of the “rat race” of the Bay Area.

Denis had a smile that was infectious and a way of making you laugh when you were around him. He owned the Uniontown Union 76 service station in Arcata for 16 years. He used to tell customers who asked for directions that they “could not get there from here.” He said it so seriously that it would take them a minute to realize he was pulling their leg.

He loved taking his family camping every summer for family reunions. Denis was a loyal A’s fan, taking us daughters to games at the Oakland Coliseum when we were young. He was also an avid bowler, and loved hanging out at Adel’s with the morning crew. Family was everything to him, and his kind spirit and zest for life will live on through them.

Denis is preceded in death by his loving wife, Barbara Jean Rinehart. He is survived by his four daughters, Debbie Jacobsen, Susan Chase, Kelly Sjoding and Cynthia Clark. He is also survived by his brother, Melvin Rinehart and sister, Carol Knapp and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Lung Association.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Denis’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.