Dennis Taylor

Dennis Taylor was a man who understood computers, who knew how the circuits worked, and the connections that brought them to life. Dennis understood the connections in his own life better than most, and how important the people around him really were. He was a computer expert by trade, but a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend by choice, a man who kept us all connected, just as his memory does today. Denniss story began on a hot summer day in 1953, during the dog days of summer in Muskegon, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, which was battling the Cold War and the Red Scare, during the new, Nuclear Age and the time of the hydrogen bomb. The Korean War ended earlier that summer, but Orlo and Rosella (Ireland) Taylor had more to celebrate on August 19, 1953, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Dennis Keith. Dennis was the baby of three children in the familys Muskegon home, joining his big sister Dawn, 12 years his senior, and his big brother Orlo Lee. The family lived on Sternberg Road in Norton Shores, and his dad worked as a welder at the Oldberg Company in nearby Grand Haven, while his mother cared for the kids and the home. Dennis attended Hile Elementary School, and became a Boy Scout as a youngster, forming a lifelong love of hunting and fishing with his father. His dad influenced Dennis in many ways, from teaching him how to operate his Ham radio and to tinker with equipment, the start of his love for electronics. When he was 12, Dennis and his parents and their beloved dog Cindy took a months-long trip around the country, touring many of the National Parks together, camping in their pop-up camper, like they had many times before. Denniss parents also took their son to their ballroom dances, instilling a love for dancing and parties in young Dennis. Dennis eventually attended Fruitport High School, where he sang in the choir and played guitar in a band with his buddies Dave, Doug, and Dan, calling themselves the Four Ds. The band played many dances around the area. After he graduated high school, Dennis attended Muskegon Community College, though soon he had more than studies on his mind. He began dating Denise Campfield, after dating several of her sisters in high school. They hit it off, and were married when Dennis was just 19. Dennis worked many different jobs in those days, looking for the right career. He began taking computer classes, and found he enjoyed programming and playing computer games, at the dawn of that era. He eventually went to work for Radio Shack. Dennis and Denise divorced after five years, but he wasnt meant to remain alone for long. He took a second job as a projectionist at the Auto Drive-In Theater, and soon met a wonderful young woman named Barbara Path, who worked at another drive-in theater in town. Barb was also divorced, one of many things they found in common. They became friends, started dating, and became a real couple one night at a Halloween party. Before they knew it, Dennis and Barb were in love and living together, the start of a beautiful relationship. Dennis soon transferred to Lansing, but they moved back to Muskegon after a year to be closer to friends and family. The couple was married on April 28, 1979, and it wasnt long before the newlyweds became parents, too. They welcomed the birth of their beautiful baby girl Heather in 1980, making Dennis so happy and proud. Dennis and Barb both found work at Howmet in Muskegon, which was a great experience for them. They did everything together, driving to work, eating lunch together, and sharing their days on the ride home. They also acquired Barbs parents home, which they spent the next six years completely remodeling. In 1990, the family moved into a terrific new home in Dalton Township, a place they loved right away. It was a great neighborhood, filled with plenty of families and kids. Everyone got along well, and the couple hosted many parties around their backyard firepit. Dennis loved to socialize, and even turned their garage into a great gathering place, complete with a disco ball, DJ booth, and a fog machine! When Heather was a teenager, the garage was filled with her friends every weekend. Dennis and Barb enjoyed doing things together, as well, especially riding their black Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, as members of the West Michigan Gold Wing Tour Riders. In the fall, Dennis (and Barb, too) loved going hunting, both bow and rifle. In the winter, they loved to go snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, too. Dennis eventually was downsized at Howmet, so he opened his own computer store "The Family Computer Center" which he ran for several years. When that closed he found computer work through Manpower spending several years mostly working at Sappi. During that time he also took a second job as the assistant manger at the Cinema Theater. He finally found permanent work at Best Buy, which he enjoyed and where he remained the rest of his career. In 1999, Dennis received difficult news, he had renal cell cancer in his kidney. It was the start of a long, difficult road the family traveled together, one in which Dennis battled bravely. He underwent surgeries, took experimental drugs and radiation treatments, first at the University of Michigan Hospital, and later the Cleveland Clinic. No matter what they tried, the cancer continued to spread. He eventually lost the ability to walk, though he didnt let it slow him down, and even helped Barb with a landscape project, using tools he devised and the aid of his electric cart. He had to leave Best Buy, but he continued to test video games for companies from his computer at home. Denniss health continued to decline, and sadly, he died on Monday, October 6, 2008, at the age of 55. Dennis was a wonderful man, who was best at connecting with the people around him. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a great friend to so many. He was a computer expert by trade, but most of all, he was a man who kept us all connected, just as his love and memory does today. He will be so greatly missed. Dennis is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Heather (Mike) Rynberg of Muskegon; grandson, Gavin; brother, Lee (Jannie) Taylor; sister, Dawn (Daniel) Lake of Branch; brothers-in-law, Elwood (Patty) Path, David (Shirley) Path; several nieces & nephews. Services are scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2008, 11:00 AM at Clock Chapel. Visitation is Friday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorial donations may be made to MHP-Living With Cancer Support Group. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or sign the online guest book.