Dennis Dwight Burkholder

Dennis Dwight Burkholder was born on March 26, 1953 in Cheyenne, Wyoming to George Burkholder and Leila (Kellie) Burkholder. He was the oldest of four siblings. Dennis passed away at UCHealth Greeley on February 26, 2022 at the age of 68. He was surrounded by his children, as he passed.

Dennis came into the world backwards. He would say he was “Skinny as a rail, 21 inches long and breech.” He served his country proudly in Germany during the Vietnam War. During this time his daughter Tina was born. After returning home, he attended MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS, with aspirations of being a history teacher. Unfortunately, life intervened and he took a different path.

Dennis later became a trucker driver and took to the road for over 30 years. During a brief stint as a Greyhound driver Dennis was deadheading home when the driver died of a heart attack and he intervened, preventing the bus from hitting a rail. He was hailed as hero and loved to show off an article the company had written about him.

Dennis’s family and friends will remember him as a big bear of a man with a booming voice. He never met a stranger and would help anyone in need. He enjoyed cooking, music and movies, collecting over 600 throughout his life.

Dennis leaves his daughters Tina of Savannah, GA, Zoe of Arvada, Co, Lindsey of Limon, Co and his son Trevor (Amber) of Hutchinson, MN. He is also survived by one granddaughter, Thea, and an unborn grandchild due August 2022. He was preceded in death by his father George Burkholder and mother Leila (Kellie) Chase and a stillborn daughter, Holly. He also leaves two sisters, Sharlon Mays and Lana Doughtery and a brother, Terry Burkholder. He will be greatly missed.