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Submitted: 7/21/24 • Approved: 7/29/24 • Last Updated: 8/1/24 • R276051-G276051-S3
Dennis Reents
March 4, 1936 - September 28, 2022
Dennis Reents, 86, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota passed away on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at his home in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 7, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation with family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 6, 2022, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Sioux Falls.
Dennis Reents was born on March 4, 1936, to John and Hazel (Kranz) Reents in a house in Riverside, Sioux Falls, SD.
Dennis married the love of his life, Lucille Mae Colwill on June 4, 1955. The young couple bought a house on north Lewis Ave. in Sioux Falls that would become the family home to their four children: Steve (Julie) Reents, Laurie (Jim) Van Hunnick, Lisa (Brett) Utech and Dawn (Steve) Krier.
That home was also the headquarters of American Tree Service for over 45 years, where Dennis became known for his hard work and expertise in the tree business. He even received a phone call wanting work done, just last May, more than 10 years after he retired.
Honored to have known and loved him are his grandchildren, Lacey Reents, Amy (Dan) Buckley, Abby (Brandon) Cates, Kelly Reents, Jerrad Nolte, Rilee (Derek) Price, Stevi (Jacob) Smith, and Garett Krier; great grandkids, Gracie and Katie, Madisyn and Jackson, Carleigh and Ellie, and Slade and Brody.
Dennis’ very special Angel, granddaughter, Ashley Nolte preceded him and has been waiting for her Grandpa in heaven for 32 years.
Dennis was also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Don, Lloyd, Howard and Jim; and his sister, Stella.
Dennis lived his entire life in Riverside, except for the period after WWII when his parents moved onto the Air Base in Sioux Falls. This formed Dennis’ wild side. At Hawthorne grade school, Dennis sat behind a pretty twin girl with dark hair and curls. To this little girl, he was just another boy in school, but to Dennis, this was his future wife. The relationship between the young couple blossomed when Dennis bought Lucille a pair of roller skates for her 16th birthday. His talents at the Moonlight roller rink may have been what finally won Lucille’s heart.
In the early family years, Dennis enjoyed spending time with the family’s horses that they kept boarded down by the river. Dennis was always there to watch Steve compete and even tried his own hand on a few occasions. The young couple traded in the skates for dancing shoes, and they spent many Saturday nights on the dance floor.
Lucille’s twin sister, Lillian and her husband, Jim Hanisch became a long-standing double date on Saturday nights. At First United Methodist Church on Sundays, you could find them all in their favorite back pew.
Everyone who knew him, loved to hear Dennis tell stories from his youth. Sometimes, when you thought he was telling a story, it ended with a punch line.
In his later years, Dennis loved to read and enjoyed watching old movies with his Grandson, Jerrad. He cherished sitting in the sunshine and was the perfect tour guide on slow drives with the family through old Sioux Falls.
Contributed on 7/21/24 by 9kat
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Record #: 276051