Dennis Arthur Powers, aged 77, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 under hospice care at Sun Lakes, Arizona. Born April 26th, 1942, in Racine, Wisconsin, he was the son of Bernard J. Powers of Whitewater and Margaret of Racine. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Pamela. He is also survived by his children Christina McFerren (Lincoln) of Phoenix, AZ; James Powers (Jessica) of Waltham, MA; and five wonderful grandchildren.
Dennis grew up in Janesville Wisconsin, where he attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School; graduated in 1960 from Janesville Senior High School . He played on his High School Varsity Baseball and Basketball teams. He continued to play Baseball at University of Wisconsin (LaCrosse) and played on Baseball Leagues in Janesville. Dennis graduated from the University of Wisconsin (Whitewater), in 1966, with a degree in Business Administration. He belonged to Phi Sigma Epsilon Fraternity. After college he married Pamela Powers, class of 1964 Janesville, on December 24, 1966 at St. John Vianney Church. Dennis was drafted and served in the 4th Army Infantry Division in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968. He was stationed in Pleiku, Vietnam. He also attended the Officer’s Candidate School in Lawton Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Dennis worked for General Motors Company for 34 years. He started his career at the G.M. plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he was a Line boss. In 1976 he transferred to the G.M. Warren Tech Center where he held many different position over his career, retiring in 2002. For fourteen years, Dennis was a part time Assistant Baseball Coach for Malow Junior High School, Utica Community Schools, in Shelby Township, Michigan. He helped with various kids program In Utica Schools; was also an avid golfed and loved fishing.
Dennis and Pam lived in Hilton Head, South Carolina for 3 years, before moving to Sun Lakes, Arizona in 2005. Dennis joined the G.M. Alumni Club of Arizona in 2005, and served as Secretary; Vice President; and President in 2018. Through the G.M. Alumni Club of Arizona, he volunteered with the City of Phoenix Awin Program, where he taught the fundaments of Engineering to 6th graders. The final class project was building a small prototype car.
He was a member of St. Stevens and the Knights of Columbus.
He will be inturned at Valley of the Sun
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