Colonel Dennis Joseph Beers

Dennis was born on April 17, 1954, in Johnson City, NY and passed into eternity on May 26, 2026, in Melbourne, Florida, surrounded by family. He lived a full life in his 72 years.

After his younger years enjoying the outdoors in upstate NY, he moved with his parents and 5 siblings to Rockledge, FL in 1967 when his father was reassigned by his company to serve the space program. While in Rockledge, he was active in several sports including football and wrestling and gained many lifelong friends.

After his graduation from RHS in 1972, he went to the University of Florida where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in safety and health management in 1979.

After a short career in the insurance industry consulting with companies on their safety programs, he made a career change and joined the United States Air Force in 1980. While in the USAF, he worked as a missile officer, a protocol officer, and eventually moved into Logistics and Procurement. He served honorably as an officer at bases in Missouri, California, Texas, Alabama, Washington DC, Mississippi, Virginia and Georgia, retiring as a Colonel in 2007 after 27 years of military service.

After his first retirement, he joined the US Army Corps of Engineers as a Procurement Officer, serving Mississippi, Virginia and Ohio. He ultimately retired from that position and settled in Melbourne, Florida in 2019. In later years, he was a published author, and he continued to teach procurement classes as a consultant to numerous US Federal agencies around the globe for many years until his passing.

Dennis is survived by his wife Phannee of Melbourne FL, children Alan Beers (Amanda) of Mount Pleasant SC, and Jackie (Tom) Szymoniak of Bloomington, Illinois as well as brothers Mike (Penny) of Silverdale WA, Jim (Debbi) of Hixson, TN and Tom (Kathy) of Palm Bay, FL; including 7 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge on June 20, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with full military honors and graveside service with a reception following for family and friends.