Dennis Hatt Obituary

Dennis Hatt

Born: Jul 2, 1945 | Died: Mar 12, 2025

Dennis Edward Hatt passed away peacefully at home on March 12, 2025 after several stays in the hospital. He was 79 years old. He was born in Hampton, Virginia on July 2, 1945 while his father was stationed there during World War II.

Dennis attended grade school and high school in Jackson, Michigan followed by two years at the Jackson Community College. He then transferred to Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois in 1965 and received a teaching certificate for grades 6-12. While there, he played soccer for Blackburn College and was a big asset for the team since he was naturally left footed. Dennis met his wife, Penny, during their junior year at Blackburn. They dated until 1971, when they had a Christmas wedding in Chicago.

His first teaching assignment was in Markham, Illinois, teaching Science and Math. While teaching, he received his Masters of Education from Chicago State University and continued his education at Northern Illinois University where he earned a certificate of Advance Studies in Education. After teaching for a number of years, he became the Principal of Churchville Junior High School in Elmhurst, Illinois.

After teaching for 34 years in the Chicago suburbs, Dennis and Penny decided to take early retirement. In 2001, they moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They lived there until 2013 when they decided the winters were too harsh. A life-long friend and his wife had purchased property in Kahite. They started visiting them, fell in love with the area and relocated to Tellico Village.

Dennis was an avid golfer from a young age. His proudest moment was a hole in one at Arbor Hills Country Club in Jackson, Michigan on his 18th birthday!

He also enjoyed deer and duck hunting, along with trap and skeet shooting. He was a longtime member of Ducks Unlimited, which is an organization that invests in saving wetlands throughout the United States.

Dennis began playing piano at an early age and continued into his adult years.

He enjoyed entertaining the college students at the Student Center on Blackburn's campus.

Dennis enjoyed photography. He loved taking photos of camping trips with Penny across the U.S. and Canada. He loved being on the water at home in northern Michigan where he piloted a pontoon, a motorboat and a Hobie Cat. Dennis loved winter sports as well. Upper Michigan was a great place to snowmobile and cross-country ski. One Christmas trip took them to Yellowstone National Park where the skiing was phenomenal!

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Jeannette & Daryle Hatt Sr., his brother Daryl Hatt Jr. and sister-in-law Mary Deborah Scott.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Penelope (Penny) Demakos Hatt; nephews Jeremy Hatt (Tracy) and Christopher Hatt (Christy); great nephews Braden Hatt, Cyrus Hatt and Dylan Hatt; and his aunt Jackie Hoyt; and several cousins.

The Funeral Service will be held at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church

(143 Chota Center in Tellico Village) on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 11:00am with Pastor Phil

Vickers officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Folds of Honor, 2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Ste 900-93, Franklin, TN 37069 or [email protected].

Click Funeral Home & Cremations - Tellico Village Chapel is serving the family of Dennis Hatt. www.clickfuneralhome.com.