Dewey Dankert Obituary

Dewey D. Dankert

OTTO - Dewey D. Dankert, 92, of Otto, passed away Friday (Oct. 24, 2025) at Buffalo General Hospital.

He was born May 25, 1933, in Otto, the son of the late Vernon and Edith Lent Dankert.

On April 12, 1958, he married the former Patricia Comilla who survives.

Mr. Dankert owned and operated the family farm in Otto for many years and also working agriculture construction with Bob Gabel Belting in Chaffee.

Dewey joined the Otto Volunteer Fire Department in 1953 and did not slow down since then. Before Otto had EMTs, he was a member of the "Red Cross Advanced First Aid" and then in the 1980s became an EMT. Dewey was known for getting high 90s on his NYS EMS recertification exams. That is a huge accomplishment!

He was extremely resourceful and knowledgeable on scenes at fire and medical calls. Dewey was a huge help to the community, responding to calls well into his late 80s.

In 2022, Dewey was chosen as one of the winners in the first annual Fireman Honoree Award at the Erie County Fair.


Dewey was a friend to all, a father figure to many and a grandpa to the lucky ones. Dewey's steady tone and encouraging voice was what people loved most about him. From working on truck mechanical issues, to rescue tool skills to training in the back of the ambulance with the EMS crew, Dewey was always willing to lend a hand and teach. When he spoke, people stopped to listen because his knowledge and ability to problem solve quickly. His friendly personality and jokes made people feel right at home at the firehall.

We are lucky to have our 1939 firetruck in running condition. Dewey shared many stories about responding to calls on that same truck. To the younger generation of fire hall kids, that truck is known as "Dewey's Truck."

Dewey along with his wife Pat (lifelong Otto Auxiliary member) were the welcoming faces many saw at our fundraiser events. From Santa at the firehall, to pancake breakfasts and BBQs, they were both there working and waving people into our hall. Dewey was known as the "toast master" after working many years at the toast station at our breakfasts.

Not only was Dewey an impacting member of the fire department community, he was also a huge part of the local farming community. Between farming and fire calls, it was easy to be short on time, where quick thinking had to come into action. Once while he was cutting hay, he responded to a neighboring brush fire in his tractor. On another call to a house fire on Christmas Eve, he was seen carrying the woodstove out of a structure fire with one of his sons, helping save the house! When thanked he would always say, "just doing what needed to be done."

He also was a lifetime avid outdoorsman and member of the NRA.

To know Dewey was to love him.

Besides his loving wife of 67 years, he is survived by five sons, Richard (Mary) Dankert, William (Michele) Dankert, Kenneth (Denise) Dankert, Daniel (Alice) Dankert and Robert Dankert, all of Otto; a daughter, Debra (Wayne) Stein of Cattaraugus; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Merton Dankert; and three sisters, Josephine Salisbury, Carolyn Stuart and Yvonne Gabel; and a great-granddaughter, Kansas Mae Stein.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 30, 2025) at the Mentley Funeral Home Inc. 411 Rock City St. in Little Valley.  Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday (Nov. 1, 2025) from East Hill Cemetery in Otto.

Memorials may be made to the Otto Vol. Fire Dept.