James Allen Dennis Jr.

Jim was born 27 September 1931 in St. Paul, Minnesota and was the eldest of seven children born to James Allen Dennis and Alice Frances "Shoody" Sheppard. He was raised on St. Paul's West Side with his early years in the West Side Flats and then – with his cousins all around – at St. Pierre Terrace. He attended Crowley and Roosevelt Schools and Humboldt High School before he entered the Army in 1948. In the Service, Jim learned the carpenter trade and earned the rank of staff sergeant, and after his discharge, he began his long career as a construction superintendent. Notably, he was employed with Hurley Construction beginning in 1952 – through the 1950s and 60s – until Hurley Construction ended their business and with Park Construction from 1975 to 1991.

On 26 July 1952, Jim married Marvel Marcella "Mubbs" Ohmann, the daughter of Frederick Ohmann and Mary Gardner, and eight children – six daughters and two sons – were born to Jim and Marvel. They made their home on St. Paul's East Side and were married nearly 38 years when Marvel died in 1989. Jim married Patricia Ann "Patty" Kaul, the daughter of Harry Kaul and Jennie "Dolly" Dockter on 23 February 1991, and in 1998, moved with Patty to her hometown of New Rockford. During their nearly 33 year marriage, Jim and Patty enjoyed scuba vacations, casino outings, and family holidays. Jim especially enjoyed creating wood crafts and hand-made gifts – toys, furniture, home accessories, and more – for his children and grandchildren every Christmas. At the end of his life, it was Patty who attended to Jim as he battled metastasized melanoma.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Marvel; mother, Alice Willett; sister, Jeanine Primoli; infant brothers, John and Jack Dennis; sister-in-law, Delores Ohmann; brothers-in-law, Daniel Primoli, Roland Sjodin, Earl and Lyle Ohmann, Joseph Gramling, and Irvin Simms; and sons-in-law, James S. and Brian Fish.

Jim is survived by his wife, Patricia; daughters, Christine Rydel, Jacqulyn S., Barbara Dennis, Jane Biessener, Sandra Dennis and husband, Mark Schmid, Debra Ebertz and husband, Anthony; sons, Richard Dennis and wife, Rayann, and Robert Dennis and partner, Becky Small; stepson, Tony Jensen and partner, Tricia Kandt; sisters, Jacqueline Hines and husband, James, Janice Johnson and husband, Russell, and Judith "Judy" Williamson; brothers, Steve Claude and James Allen Price Dennis; sisters-in-law, Charlene Ohmann, Carol Gramling, Ruby Simms, Joan Marquez and husband Robert; brothers-in-law, Wayne Jorgensen, Clyde Ohmann and wife Elaine, Eugene Kaul, and Leonard Kaul and wife Debrah; granddaughters, Desta, Maddlyn, Emily "Emmy", Nicole, Serena, Samantha, Mahriana, Tatiana, Annmarie, Isadora, Dominica, Lucerna, and McKenzie; grandsons, David, Anthony, Nathaniel "Nate", Andrew, William, J. Karl, Tyler, Sawyer, Connor, and Kaden; 25 great grandchildren; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation is Monday, 9 January 2023 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Wulff Funeral Home, 1485 White Bear Avenue, St. Paul. Funeral service is Tuesday, 10 January 2023 at 10:30 am with visitation one hour prior at Wulff Funeral Home. Interment is at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.