Dennis Wilson

DENNIS BURGESS WILSON

6/23/1942 – 4/4/2026

Dennis B. Wilson, 83, passed away suddenly at home in Grand Junction after bravely enduring many health issues during these last years. Dennis was a beloved husband, Dad, Grandpa, G-PA, brother and uncle to his surviving family: including wife, Loretta (Lori); sons, Jonathan (Sonja) and Douglas (Yuovonne); twelve grandchildren/step-grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; sister Judy Schiefen (David); sister-in-law, Dolly Lockett; and many nieces and nephews.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara CA, his parents were Elmer and Rita Wilson. Growing up, Dennis enjoyed happy times with neighborhood pals, going to the beach, camping, playing sports, and spending summers with his grandparents, Dick and Emily Comstock, on their dairy farm in Modesto. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1960 and joined the Navy. He met Lori and their two-year courtship included letters from the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Seattle, and Vietnam.

After his service, he and Lori married. He was employed by the Santa Barbara City Water Dept., where he worked his way up from digging ditches to become a Certified Water Treatment Operator. In 1974, after completing college courses in Supervision and Management, he was hired as Water Treatment Plant Superintendent in Yuba City CA and the family relocated. He ended his 27-year career with Yuba City as Supervisor of the Electrical Department. He and Lori retired in 2001. They moved to Grand Junction in 2003, half-way between family in California and Missouri, making frequent trips both ways to enjoy visits with all the “kids.”

In addition to his work life and devotion to family, Dennis enjoyed the outdoors and excelled at many sports: hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling, tennis, bowling, slow-pitch softball, boating, archery (he was a member of the Grand Mesa Bowmen), and golf, having had 2 holes-in-one. Travel high-lights were trips to Scotland (St. Andrews Golf Course), London, fishing in Alaska, and he and Lori shared many adventures across the U.S. More recent hobbies were building Technic Lego models and Playstation video games. Although known to be playfully ornery on occasion, Dennis was good-natured and sociable. The family light-heartedly teased that he could talk to anyone, anytime, about anything.

A service with military honors will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, Grand Junction. Memorial contributions may be made to your charity of choice.

May he rest in peace, forever in our hearts.