Dennis Proctor

Dennis Wayne Proctor, a devoted lover and protector of wildlife, passed away at the age of 78 on May 17, 2025, at the University of Iowa Palliative Care Unit. Dennis was the eldest son of Wayne and Dorothea (Wycoff) Proctor born on his dad’s birthday, October 14, 1946. Growing up on a farm, Dennis always loved the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, trapping was just his way of life. Until girls came a long and he fell in love with his high school sweetheart, Nancy Parks. In his high school years, he loved wrestling and running around with friends. Upon graduating in 1965 from Davis County Community Schools, he joined the United States Army, completing a tour of duty in Viet Nam. He was very proud of his service to his country. Upon returning home, he married his high school sweetheart on June 20, 1970. Dennis went off to college graduating from Northeast Missouri State University in 1974 with a degree in biology. This degree would allow him to pursue his love of the outdoors. His entire career would be with Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources. The first half of his career serving wildlife at Rathbun Lake Wildlife Unit and the last half managing the Coralville Wildlife Unit. His calendar year was not holidays and weekends but opening hunting and fishing seasons. Upon his retirement from the DNR in 2008, he continued sharing his love of the outdoors with his grandchildren, Hannah Proctor, Holden Zamastil and Piper Zamastil. He loved watching them learn to fish and hunt. In the last few years when dialysis slowed him down, he took great pride in sharing with others what a great turkey-caller Holden was. He loved the Proctor Clan and spent as much of the summer as possible at the cabin at Lake Rathbun where the boats left at sunrise and often did not return until 0’dark thirty. He was most alive when he was on the lake, in the tree stand, or in the duck blind. Such a lover of the outdoors should never be trapped in a hospital bed. This quiet, reserved, kind sportsman will be missed in so many ways. Left behind to carry on his legacy of hunting and fishing are his son-in-law, Pat Zamastil, his grandson, Holden Zamastil, granddaughters, Hannah Proctor and Piper Zamastil. Also attempting to follow in his footsteps are his sister, Rhonda (Fred) Humpal of Lake Rathbun, his brother Gene (Patty) Proctor of Bloomfield and brother Gary (LouAnn) Proctor of Bashor, Kansas. His wife, Nancy, and daughter, Haley Zamastil will just miss him greatly with no intention of carrying on his legacy. His sisters-in-law Elaine Faas of Ames, and Rita Parks of Indianola, many nieces, nephews and others will miss him and his ornery smile. Waiting to receive him with open arms are his son, Jason, his uncle Rex who taught him to hunt and his grandmother Wycoff who taught him to fish. Also waiting for him are his parents and his in-laws Harvey and Icil Parks and all who have preceded him. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025 at the Bloomfield Christian Church with Pastor Don Naftz officiating. Visitation with family present to greet friends will be on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Reed-Whisler Post #78 of the American Legion will provide military rites. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to Davis County Conservation, Izaak Walton League and the American Legion. Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield is in charge of arrangements.

Dennis Proctor

October 14, 1946 - May 17, 2025