Dennis A. Cairns

As a brother, father, husband, uncle, friend, coach, entrepreneur, and fellow parishioner, Dennis Cairns was known for bringing a passion and zeal to nearly everything he did. He christened a new pool (not his) by jumping in fully clothed, he danced in the aisles of jazz concerts where people didn’t typically dance in the aisles, he clapped his hands, sang off key, and opened his heart to the spirit. At age 82, Dennis passed away on August 8, 2024.

Dennis was born in Greenville, Michigan, in November of 1941, to Ronald and Grace Cairns. Three years later his sister, Mary (Daniels), was born. These formative years, while living next door to grandparents, deeply embedded the importance of family.

Dennis met his first wife, Linda, while both worked at Hudson’s in downtown Detroit, he in management and she as a model, and eventually married in 1966. His career in advertising with Young & Rubicam took them from Detroit to Memphis, TN; Bronxville, NY; Puerto Rico, and Atlanta, GA before returning to Michigan to raise two sons. They say 90% of success is just showing up. For a parent, this is particularly true. And Dennis showed up for his kids’ soccer games and tennis matches, for lunches out on school half-days, for all-time quarterback in neighborhood football games, for the concerts, art exhibits and movies he wanted to experience with family, for Lake Michigan swims on hot summer evenings and for watching the thunderstorms come across the lake on not-so-nice evenings. The guy showed up!

During this time, Dennis founded and led Marketing Services Institute, which was based in the Tri-Cities and focused on automotive aftermarket product promotion. Later in life, his career shifted into providing personal financial guidance and the formation of DAC Financial Planning.

In 1988, Dennis married Christine Guimond. Together they enjoyed deep and lasting friendships, participated in a gourmet cooking group, traveled widely and once rode a tandem bike on Nantucket. Tandem bike ride aside, it was a long and happy marriage of 30 years full of profound love and respect for one another.

With Christianity as a pillar of their relationship, Dennis and Chris helped introduce a contemporary service to Grand Haven’s First Presbyterian Church, the church in which they were wed. In the years following, they helped found Harvest House, an independent contemporary church.

Dennis was also dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America, rising to the rank of Eagle Scout. He later served as the Scoutmaster of Troop #14 in Spring Lake and took part in a harrowing trip to Philmont in the New Mexico wilderness. While he survived, a hat and an overpriced pair of sunglasses he traveled with did not. Joining his scouting ranks are his son, Ben, his grandson, Brennan, and nephew, Logan, who are all Eagle Scouts.

Dennis was preceded in death by Christine, in 2018. Dennis is survived by his two sons and their families: Benjamin (Kathleen) Cairns and their children, Caroline, Brennan and Graham; David (Michele Kruegel) Cairns, and their daughter, Tallulah. He is also survived by his sister, Mary (Doug) Daniels, his sister-in-law, Frances Guimond, as well as by nephews Jason (Tracy) Daniels and Logan (Anne) Delke, niece Abbey (Mark) Schaefer, and their respective families.

A celebration of Dennis’s life will be held October 26th from 12 to 2 PM at the Spring Lake Yacht Club. 17500 West Spring Lake Rd., Spring Lake, MI 49456.

The family requests casual attire.