Dennis Weber

There are few people who you could expect to meet at a car show, going deer hunting, or riding a pet buffalo at a local parade, but Dennis Weber loved to do all of these things and more. A friendly, light hearted man, Dennis loved to be surrounded by those he loved most—his family and friends. A beloved son, brother and uncle, Dennis had an outgoing, chatty personality and an enthusiasm for life that few people could match.

Dennis Weber’s story begins right in the middle of the 1950’s, in the year 1956. The 1950’s were a peaceful, golden age in United State’s history, with Elvis rocking the music scene, television rising in popularity, and stars like Jackie Robinson dominating the baseball diamonds. Following the tumultuous times of the Great Depression and WWII, the 1950’s were an age of economic prosperity and social change. In the year 1956 in St. Johns, Michigan, Mark and Henrietta (Kramer) Weber were busy preparing their home for the birth of not one, but two new children. One beautiful fall day, on September 18, 1956, Mark and Henrietta held their two new bundles of joy. In one arm they held a beautiful son named Dennis, and in the other his twin brother, David.

Dennis enjoyed a happy childhood growing up on a farm in Fowler, Michigan. An easy going baby, Dennis soon became a loving, friendly child with a love for animals and the outdoors and a passion for playing around the farm. As the second of 11 children, Dennis never lacked a playmate, and made friends easily. As a young child, Dennis developed an early infatuation with motorcycles and cars. Eager to operate one of those machines himself, Dennis learned to drive a John Deere 2 cylinder tractor, and was a pro at driving it by age 8.

As a child, Dennis demonstrated a strong work ethic, and dutifully completed his share of chores on the farm, including milking the cows every day before and after school. Together with his twin David, Dennis attended elementary school and high school in Fowler, Michigan. While the two boys often argued as children, their relationship became much closer as they grew older. And of course, Dennis’s enthusiasm for motorcycles, dirt bikes and cars followed him as he grew older too. Thrilled to finally own his own cars, a white ’75 Trans Am and a ’69 Firebird, Dennis took immaculate care of them, and kept them for the rest of his life.

Throughout high school, Dennis enjoyed participating in foosball tournaments, and enjoyed it even more after he won several. After high school, Dennis and David became involved in drag racing, an activity which they always enjoyed. Dennis entered the working world after graduation, earning a living working on several dairy farms in the area. Later, he found a job at Federal Mogul. Knowing this was the right fit for him, Dennis worked there for 23 years until the plant closed until 2006.

Having spent so much of his childhood on farms, Dennis felt drawn back to the farming life as an adult, and decided to raise buffalo and elk on the family farm. Later, he was able to purchase his own piece of property, which he farmed proudly. Always eager to keep busy, Dennis had many hobbies, including hunting deer and various small game. He loved going to car shows and seeing hot air balloons, and even owned his own ultra-light aircraft. Dennis’s childhood fondness for animals followed him into adulthood as well, and it came as no surprise that he owned a pet buffalo named Buffy. Dennis loved to show off Buffy at parades and local shows, and enjoyed riding him like a horse around his property.

As Dennis and David grew older, they maintained the close relationship they had built as kids. The two enjoyed going to auctions together, and their appearance was so similar, even as adults, that few people were able to tell them apart. Family always held a special place in Dennis’s heart, and he loved to spend time with them and stay close. More than anything, Dennis loved spending time with his nieces, nephews and godchildren, who could always count on him to give them a cookie whenever they met.

Dennis was a friendly, hard working man who loved nothing more than enjoying the company of those around him. With an enthusiasm for cars, farming, and family, Dennis lived a simple life surrounded by those things which he enjoyed most. A beloved son, brother and uncle, Dennis will continue to live in the hearts of those who loved him. He will be greatly missed.

Dennis James Weber died on September 8, 2010. He is survived by his parents, Mark and Henrietta, siblings, twin brother, David (Sue) Weber, Sheryl (Mike) Gallagher, Brenda (Ken) Miller, Dale Weber, Sandy (Bruce) Fandel, Pam (Glen) Miller, Danny Weber, Tammy (Jeff) Tyler, Doug (Mindy) Weber, Becky (Jeff) Wendinger, 29 nieces and nephews and 2 great nieces.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 11, 2010, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Fr. Dennis Howard presiding. The family will receive friends Friday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., with rosaries prayed at 3 and 8 p.m., at the Goerge Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, 11112 W. Ionia St., Fowler. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a photo and memory or sign the online guestbook.