Dennis Frank Shaha passed away on May 23, 2026, following a short and sudden illness at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, surrounded by his family. He was 75 years old.
Dennis was born on December 19, 1950, in Scotia, California, to Leonard and Ernestine Shaha. He grew up in Ferndale, where he attended local schools and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1969. Although he enjoyed playing a variety of sports throughout his youth, his greatest passion was working on and racing cars. From an early age, he spent countless hours in the garage alongside his father, learning the craft and developing a lifelong love of automobiles.
Dennis met the love of his life, Eloise Voss, while they were in middle school. The couple married in 1970 and settled in Santa Rosa, California. That same year, they welcomed their son, Louie, and completed their family with the birth of their daughter, Chanda, in 1973.
In 1975, Dennis and Eloise returned to Eureka with their young family and purchased Rosewood Body Shop. Originally located on Campton Hill, the business later moved to its long-term location on West 14th Street in Eureka. Dennis’s passion for cars was deeply rooted and became a central part of family life. Louie and Chanda grew up around the shop and eventually joined the business themselves. Today, Louie continues the Rosewood Body Shop legacy alongside his son and Dennis’s grandson, Brady, while Chanda has built a successful 35-year career in the autobody industry.
The shop was more than a workplace—it was an extension of the family. Customers became lifelong friends, and generations of Shaha grandchildren could often be found running through the halls or playing behind the front desk while their parents worked. The relationships built through Rosewood Body Shop endured for decades and became an important part of Dennis’s life.
In 2014, Dennis and Eloise retired and relocated to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, passing ownership of Rosewood Body Shop to Louie. Tragically, less than a year later, Dennis lost Eloise to leukemia on March 20, 2015.
During the final decade of his life, Dennis remained devoted to the things he loved most. He spent countless hours working on cars, attending car shows, and enjoying the close-knit community of friends he found in Arizona. He could often be found at the local dog park with his beloved dogs or proudly displaying his beautifully restored 1961 Biscayne, which earned numerous awards at car shows throughout the region.
Dennis was truly one of a kind. Though he could seem brash or intimidating at first, those who knew him discovered a generous heart, unwavering loyalty, and a deep commitment to the people he cared about. He built lasting friendships throughout both Eureka and Lake Havasu City and was always willing to lend a hand to those in need.
He was blessed with five grandchildren: Jordyn (1991), Brady (1994), Maddison (1995), Grace (2002), and Sophia (2005). One of the greatest joys of his final year was meeting his first great-grandchild, Eloise Jane, born on June 19, 2025, to his granddaughter Maddison. Named in honor of Dennis’s beloved wife of 44 years, Eloise Jane brought him immeasurable happiness. The family will forever cherish the photos of Dennis affectionately rubbing her bald head—one of his many endearing quirks.
Dennis will be remembered for summers spent at Trinity Lake, his constant need to tinker with anything mechanical, his love of eBay and his dogs, and his inability to resist rubbing a baby’s bald head. Most of all, he will be remembered with his head under the hood of a car or behind the wheel on a racetrack, doing what he loved most.
Dennis is survived by his son, Louie Shaha (Sabrina); his daughter, Chanda Shaha-Richardson (Todd); his granddaughters, Jordyn Shaha, Grace Shaha, Sophia Shaha-Richardson, and Maddison Poletski (Brian Gipson); his grandson, Brady Shaha; his great-granddaughter, Eloise Jane Gipson; his brothers, Jack and Greg Shaha; his sister, Bonnie Austin; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Ernestine Shaha; his wife, Eloise; his in-laws, Don and Irene Voss; and Geraldine Kimzey.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Turf Room at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in Ferndale, California.