Dee Dee Kerkes

Dee Dee Kerkes of Home died April 17. She was 75 years old.

She was born in Renton in 1948 and attended South Kitsap High School, followed by classes at numerous colleges.

Dee Dee worked for the Key Peninsula Fire Department and volunteered for many other local organizations including Ashes FD 16 Ladies Auxiliary, the KP Firefighters Association, and the KP Community Services senior center, and was a member of Beta Sigma Phi. She was also instrumental in founding the KP Free Clinic.

In 2018, she became the 34th recipient of the KP Lions Club Citizen of the Year Award for her then-43 years of service to the community, when she first became a volunteer firefighter.

Dee Dee was later hired as a professional paramedic for Shepherd Ambulance while continuing as a volunteer firefighter/EMT for KPFD throughout the 1980s and ’90s. She was also an EMT instructor and first-responder instructor. She finished her career working the front desk at the Key Center fire station in the early 2000s.

She is survived by her sisters Jackie Palumbo (Joe) of Kent and Linda Lane (Mike) of Port Orchard; her brother Ralph Sanford (Marie) of Oklahoma; sons Eric (Dawn) of Grapeview and Michael (Elton) of Belfair; granddaughter Julia Munguia (Everado); and great-grandson Ronin of Shelton.

There will be a private celebration of life May 4 at 2 p.m. in Grapeview. The family may be contacted through Dee Dee’s Facebook page.