DENNIS E. MAYS SR.
DENNIS E. MAYS SR.
Dennis E. Mays Sr., 86, of Black River Falls died Tuesday April 1, 2025. Dennis was born Nov. 11, 1938, in Black River Falls to Virgil and Vera (Rutherford) Mays. He attended schools in Black River Falls and Hazel Crest, IL. He enlisted in the navy at age 17 in 1956 and served 21 years. He was a flight director (yellow jacket) and worked on flight decks on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, including the USS Essex, USS Wasp and the USS Enterprise. He served off the shore of Viet Nam on the USS Enterprise during the war.
Dennis married Joanne Higgins in 1966, and they had two children, daughter Denise and son Dennis Jr.
Dennis toured six continents aboard naval carriers, and the family was stationed in several states including Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington and California.
Dennis retired from the navy as an E5 Petty officer Oct. 23, 1976, and he and his family moved back to Black River Falls. He worked at D&S Manufacturing for 15 years and then at Ashley Furniture. His wife, Joanne, passed away suddenly Dec. 11, 1995. Dennis retired in 1996 due to health reasons.
Dennis married Joan L. Bever Hanson April 18, 1998, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Black River Falls. Dennis enjoyed woodworking and did projects for family members. He made furniture, including side tables, scones, cradles, Christmas trees and reindeer and toys for children.
Dennis and Joan enjoyed doing home remodeling projects and spent a lot of time updating and maintaining Joan’s rental property. Dennis was an active member of the Guardian Angels Parish and belonged to the Knights of Columbus (third and fourth degree), American Legion and Pineview Auxiliary. Dennis and Joan had a camper and a pontoon boat in Chetek, which they enjoyed in the summers for 16 years. They traveled with their beloved cats, Charlie and Fluff, to Chetek and trips to Indiana. Dennis was a man of deep faith, and his greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He was a lover of all chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms and lemon meringue pie. Dennis had a smile that could light up a room.
In addition to woodworking, he enjoyed feeding the squirrels and birds, fishing and going on pontoon rides on the lake at Chetek. He was always up for a card game and shaking dice and was a great cribbage player. Dennis loved watching old western movies, listening to country music and attending concerts and sporting events. He was a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Bucks and all the University of Wisconsin sporting events. Dennis and Joan traveled to various places throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They also traveled to Mexico, Panama, Boliva and Ireland.
He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter Denise (Ed) Bartz, Mattawan, MI, stepson Larry M. (Taia) Hanson, Black River Falls; grandchildren Sam Bartz, Chicago, IL, Katherine and Joanna Bartz, Mattawan MI, and Joseph and Jacob Mays, Beaver Dam, WI; brother Tim Mays, San Tan Valley, AZ; step-grandchildren Allison (Drew) Eckelberg, Kyra Marshall (Cole) Byington and Jessica (Conrad) Olson; step-great-grandchildren Elena Grace Byington, Adriana and Peggy Olson, Brayden and Tristen Steinhoff; brother-in-law Tom Bever; sisters-in-law Dorothy and Jill Bever; many nieces and nephews; and cats Leo and Mica.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Mays and Vera Peterson; his wife, Joanne Mays; son Dennis E. Mays Jr.; brothers Virgil (Buddy) Mays, James (Donald) Mays and Dale Bowen and Meredith Malchow; mother-in-law Lois Bever, brother-in-law Richard (Dick) Bever; sisters-in-law Janie Malchow and Phyllis Mays; and cats Fluff and Charlie.
Celebration of life services will be held Saturday, May 10, at the Buswell Funeral Home (106 S. 2nd Street, Black River Falls, WI) with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. and service starting at 11a.m. Funeral attendees are asked to park along the street or in the municipal lot adjacent to city hall. A luncheon will be held at American Legion 200 (421 WI-54, Black River Falls, WI) immediately following the service. Military rites and burial will take place at Sullivan Cemetery at 2 p.m. in Brockway.