This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ChgoKid Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.shawano/16975/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Dennis, William J. - PLATTEVILLE Professor William J. "Bill" Dennis, age 95, of Platteville, died on Friday, June 19, 2009, at Our House Assisted Living Home in Platteville. Bill was born on May 15, 1914, in Shawano, the son of Thomas J. and Gertrude (Wilbur) Dennis. He graduated from West De Pere Nicolet High School in 1932. Bill attended St. Norbert College as an English major for two years and then moved on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study music, graduating in 1938 with B.A and B.M. degrees. A M.M. degree, also from the University of Wisconsin, was earned in 1940. He taught music in the Eagle River Schools from 1938 through 1940 where he met his future wife, Anita E. McVey. They were united in marriage on June 24, 1940, in Dubuque, Iowa. Together they moved to Ellensburg, Wash., where Bill became the director of bands at Central Washington University. The couple returned to Wisconsin in 1942 and Bill began his 40-year teaching career at what is today the University of Wisconsin-Platteville! . During his teaching career at Platteville, he taught every course offered in music and conducted every ensemble. He continued to substitute teach and teach Elderhostals in Platteville and Oshkosh for another 10 years. Bill played cornet and trumpet professionally all his adult life beginning serious study at age 14 with the first chair player of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He played in dance bands most of his life including the "house" band at the Alpine Lodge in Egg Harbor for eight consecutive summers, the Horace Heidt Sweet Band in New York City, the Larry Foster Dance Band, and the Bunny Berigan Band. Bunny once commented that, "Bill Dennis was the best second man with whom I ever played." In the summer of 1939, Bill traveled to France aboard the Queen Mary to pursue a course of study in music at Fontaine-bleau school in the center of Paris, leaving just before Hitler's troops invaded. Bill played solo cornet in the University of Wisconsin Band and Orchestras, the! famous Green Bay Packers Band, and many years with the award-winning Platteville City Band. His pep bands and marching bands were part of the winning tradition of Platteville State Teachers College athletics and his Pioneer Gleemen promoted music in Southern and Central Wisconsin schools. The UW-Platteville "fight song" and alma mater were his song and his arrangement. Although not a "schooled" pianist, Bill Dennis was frequently found at the piano leading and accompanying singing, right through his final year. He claimed to know 650 tunes and would play in whatever key worked best for the singers. He is survived by his sons, William J. "Denny" (Kathy) Dennis Jr. of Alexandria, Va., Col. Richard J. "Dick" (Frances) Dennis, USAF, Ret. of San Antonio, Texas, and Gregory J. (Diane) Dennis of Mount Horeb; his daughter, Camille A. (Kurt) Gundlach of Green Bay; eight grandchildren, William J. (Laura) Dennis III and John D. Dennis, Stephen T. (Alisa) Dennis and Allison C. (David) Daniel, Daniel C. (Debbie) Dennis and Joel A. (Rebecca) Dennis, Elizab! eth A. (Benjamin) Kapanke and Geoffrey W. Gundlach; and 11 great-grandchildren, Austin, Sydney and Joshua Dennis, David and Alexandra Daniel, Eliza Jane and Anika Dennis, and Jonah, Ezra, Lorien and Henry Dennis. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Anita; his brother, Roger; his sister, Jacquelyn Derouin; his daughter-in-law, Sandra F. Dennis; his sister-in-law, Myra Dennis; and his brother-in-law, Robert Derouin. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2009, at ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH in Platteville with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the MELBY-BENDORF FUNERAL HOME from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2009, or at the church an hour before the funeral. Memorials may be made to the Bill Dennis Scholarship Fund or the Platteville Chorale. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.