February 5, 2021 at 8:28 a.m.
Dennis Marlowe Burgy
Dennis Marlowe Burgy
He was born Feb. 22, 1947 to Mary Jane (Moershel) and Marlowe Parklin Burgy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the age of three months, he arrived with his parents in Tomahawk, Wisconsin where he spent a happy childhood, and began so many friendships that endure to this day.
Dennis graduated from Tomahawk High School in 1965. During college he worked summer jobs at Owens-Illinois including a demanding stint on the broke beater. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 1970. He remains a legendary Social Secretary for his fraternity, and organized the now annual PSI Chapter Theta Chi Ski for Cancer event in 1969. He went on to attend Valparaiso Law School in Indiana where he graduated with his Juris Doctor in 1973.
He had a fun-loving but determined spirit that refused to quit. Fiercely competitive, in high school he excelled as a wrestler, earning the distinction of being first wrestler to ever to win a match in the history of Tomahawk High School's wrestling program, and the only one to score points in that inaugural meet. He was a miler in track and competed at state. During his high school and college years, he spent countless hours perfecting his waterskiing tricks, including the chair handstand on a saucer, as a member of the newly formed Kwahamot Water Ski Show.
Though his life motto was 'persistence and determination', Dennis always had a penchant for spontaneous fun and it was a lifelong gift that he shared with his family and many friends. After law school graduation, he joined his buddies on a trip to Colorado. With no job lined up, he decided to drop off resumes along the way. It so impressed the District Attorney in Pueblo that he'd come all that way to personally submit his resume, that he was hired in his first attorney job as the Deputy District Attorney in Pueblo and later in Canon City (Fairplay).
Dennis returned to Wisconsin in 1976 settling in Eagle River where he has since remained, practicing law at O'Brien, Anderson, Burgy & Garbowicz LLP for these past 45 years. He married Carol Burgy (nee Groskopf) and they raised their family, including son Ryan and daughter Bree Ann on Deerskin Lake where the family had many idyllic and blessed years together for over 20 years. Although the marriage ended, family friendships remained.
He served as a Vilas County Court Commissioner and was an active member of the Wisconsin Bar, serving as Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Oneida-Vilas-Forest County Bar Association respectively from 1984-1987. He also served as the Attorney for several local townships. His keen sense of fairness and integrity led him to be well respected by his legal peers, and his clients.
Throughout his life Dennis maintained an abiding love of the outdoors and physical fitness. He was an avid hiker and fisherman and cherished family vacations and visits to Arizona and California. He enjoyed the camaraderie of his life-long friends at his Tomahawk hunting shack. Over the years, he also was known to enjoy socializing with his family and many friends at our local tap-house and restaurants.
Dennis also had a strong sense of community and while the law was his passion, his love was his family. He was a lifelong, active member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ. He was faithful and dedicated in everything he took on. He belonged to many service groups in his life and supported many local organizations. He was a Paul Harris Fellow Rotarian and was very proud that he had been a continuous member of Rotary since 1973. Dennis was also instrumental in developing Eagle River's soccer program. He took great interest in supporting his children's activities, and they appreciated that he always found time in his busy schedule to be with them.
For the last 21 years, Dennis made his home and blended family with his soul-mate, Donna Adams. Together they welcomed both of their extended families and friends with love. Dennis was always the rock in all our lives. He was honorable and steadfast. He was a devoted partner to Donna, he was a wonderful, loving father to Ryan and Bree Ann, a caring step-father to Sara and Matthew, the world's best uncle to Jenny and Steve, and a doting grandpa to Finn and Bodie. He was excited to meet his new grandson that Bree Ann is expecting in February.
Dennis will be remembered by his family and friends as a great, hardworking and decent man who approached life with humor and kindness towards all people. His spirit will live on in those whom he worked so hard to help, through the wisdom he instilled in those around him, through the community which he treasured, and through the pure, enveloping and eternal love he bestowed on his family and friends. We are all truly blessed to have been able share our lives with him and we will strive to live our lives by the remarkable example he set.
Dennis will be forever missed by his life-partner Donna Adams; son Ryan Burgy of Eagle River; daughter Bree Ann (Edward) Jakimzak of Encinitas, CA; stepdaughter Sara (Steven) Olsen of Tomahawk; stepson Matthew Cummings of Eagle River; and grandchildren Finn Jakimzak, and Bodie Olsen.
He is further survived by his beloved niece and nephew, Jennifer (William) Jones-Cropf, of Philadelphia, Pa. and Captain Stephen (Hannah) Jones of Fort Polk, La.; his former spouse Carol Burgy of Eagle River; his great nieces and nephews Emilia, Elijah, Joselyn, and Joseph Cropf; and Samuel and David Jones; his brother-in-law Leonard (Deborah Rundle) Jones of Harrisburg, Pa.; along with many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Deborah (Leonard) Jones.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
May God guide you into His loving arms until we meet again.
Fly High Junior Birdman.
Arrangements by Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River. Online condolences may be expressed at gaffney-busha.com
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