Dennis Max Shackelford

Dennis had 1 sister Alta Shackelford McIntosh. Dennis lived with his Aunt Erma, Uncle Clarence, his mother and cousins, Anita, Dixie, Vila Lee and Lois while Max served in the Navy. His cousin Anita says she was Dennis’ favorite and only she was able to care for him. He loved all his cousins, Aunts and Uncles. Dennis stayed in contact with several of his cousins over the years.

Dennis graduated from High School in Junction City Kansas. He stayed in touch with his classmate until he was unable to continue traveling in his later years. He was very sad to miss the class reunions.

Dennis married Janice Koeppen in 1960. They had 2 daughters, Tammy Denise and Sherri Diane. In 1969 Dennis moved his family to Canon City, Colorado. It is there that Dennis bought a glass and frame shop and called it The Mart. The business morphed into a glass shop, hobby shop, paint shop and automotive shop. Dennis loved his days of working there.

Dennis purchased a star-craft pop up camper in the early 1970s and several motorcycles. He and his friends had a little motorcycle club that went camping and riding often. Dennis even had Tammy and Janice riding their own motorcycles. He also bought Sherri a Maverik 80 minibike but at only 5 she was too scared to ride it. Many fun adventures surrounded the motorcycles.

Later in his life Dennis bought a Norton Road Bike. He enjoyed talking on CB Radios alot and his CB handle was “Snortin’ Norton”. That bike was sold, and later Dennis bought a Honda Gold Wing. He and Janice took many road trips all over on the Motorcycle.

In 1980 Dennis moved the family to Ft Collins, Colorado giving Tammy the opportunity to go to CSU. Dennis worked at several places in the area. He was the manager of Jiffy Lube in Ft Collins and hired Brian Boltz as his assistant manager. Little did he know, Brian would marry his youngest daughter 30 years later.

Dennis married Janet Letouneau in 1987. At this time he was working for CSU mail department. They traveled all over the USA in their 5th wheel. He loved traveling and fishing. He took his granddaughter Valerie camping with them often. They shared some amazing memories while camping. Dennis taught his granddaughter Shelsee to ride a bike on his little farmhouse in Windsor.

In 2001 Dennis met his partner Judy Whitely. Judy had a beautiful ranch in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dennis and Judy loved the ranch and also spent many years traveling around and RVing. They went to 44 states and 3 providences in Canada. Dennis worked at Colorado State University in the building contracts office as a legal assistant until his retirement.

Dennis and Judy traveled and spent time in Florida and Texas. They purchased a camper spot in Mercedes TX and stayed there from April to October. They later sold the camper and boat and purchased a home in the retirement community in Mercedes. Tammy, Valerie and Valerie’s daughters Regan and Kylie went to visit Dennis often and stayed with him, so that July could see her family.

Dennis was struck by Gillian Barre in 2013 and had a low back injury in 2015. Judy and Dennis moved to Mercedes full time. In 2021 Dennis went into an assisted living home due to his health. In August 2022 Dennis’ daughter Sherri and son-in law Brian flew to TX and moved Dennis back to Colorado. He moved into Grace Point assisted living. Brian and Sherri cared for Dennis while he lived at Grace Point. Tammy would drive to see him a few times a year and call weekly.

On January 1, 2024 Dennis finally became great grandpa to the only boy in the family for 82 years. Dennis became the great grandfather to Weston Loberg. His granddaughter Shelsee was the first girl in our family to have a BOY. He was so proud of all his great grandchildren. He called Weston “King”.

Dennis passed on August 10, 2024. The last thing Dennis said to his girls was "I am getting close to passing by the rainbow bridge, but I will finally be with all the dogs I loved in my life."