Dennis James McGuire

Dennis James McGuire passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the age of 73. He was born on September 20, 1951, in East St. Louis, Illinois. Due to his father being in the Navy, they moved from Illinois to Missouri to Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and making their final stop, Jacksonville, Florida.

Dennis started his career in 1973 with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at the age of 22 as a Police Emergency Communications Officer and retired in 2010 as a Lieutenant with 37 years of dedicated service to the Community. During his years working at JSO he got his associate’s degree in arts in 1983. After retiring he spent all his time making model airplanes and spending time with his grandkids.

Dennis ate, slept, and breathed his favorite hobby, “Aviation.” At the age of 14, he was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and faced many obstacles and challenges in his entire life. But he never let it stop him from his dream of flying. He did his first solo flight in 1967 at the age of 15, and then at the age of 17 he got his Private Pilot’s License to fly single-engine airplanes in Belle Chasse, Louisiana on December 4, 1968. From 1970 – 1978 he built his very own Volksplane in his garage and flew it in 1978. He and his father bought and refurbished a 1941 Aeronca Chief and flew it in the 80’s and later bought and refurbished a 1946 Taylorcraft and flew it in the 90s.

On January 1, 1993, Dennis took his nephew, Daniel Mundy, and 3 of his friends flying in his 1941 Aeronca Chief where they received their Eagle Flight Certificate, which permanently placed their name in the “World’s Largest Logbook” at the Experimental Aircraft Association Adventure Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Dennis is preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Mickey McGuire; mother, Ella Petchulat; son, Kevin Mark McGuire; father-in-law, Jonathan Walton Deans; brother’s-in-law, Michael Mundy and Dwight Miller; sister’s-in-law Irene Frye and Rita Farias; nephew, Daniel Mundy; and great-niece, Kayla Mundy.

Dennis leaves behind his loving wife of 16 years, Brenda Deans McGuire; daughters Shelley (Jeff) Levan and Brandi Zoller and Shelley’s mother, Barbara McGuire; son, Brandon Zoller; sister, Paula Mundy; mother-in-law, Loretta Deans; sister-in-law, Glenda Deans Prinzi and Tammy (Leon) Ortagus; granddaughters Jade Flint, Grace Layton, Lina Levan, Bella Levan, and Caitlyn (Andrew) Mulligan; grandsons, Camden Flint, Brayden Zoller, Brantley Zoller, and Zachary Levan; great-granddaughter, Mar Amelia Mulligan; niece, Brittany Prince; nephews Jason (Donna) Mundy, Kyle Ortagus, and Blake (Brooklynn) Ortagus; great-nieces Brianna and Kamryn Prince; and great-nephew, Michael Prince.

Dennis will be remembered by all for his sense of humor, knowledge of history, good natured attitude, love for airplanes, and big heart.

There will be a Celebration of Life held on July 19, 2025, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at the GFWC Lakeshore Woman’s Club, 2352 Lake Shore Blvd, Jacksonville FL 32210. Food will be provided.