OBITUARY
Bryan James Dennison
April 2, 1958 – June 28, 2019
Bryan James Dennison passed away on June 28, 2019, at the age of 61. Bryan suffered a catastrophic stroke and died in the hospital surrounded by family and friends.
The youngest of three brothers, Bryan was born on April 2nd, 1958, to William Dale Dennison and Elva Jane Dennison (nee Linnen). Bryan’s bustling family soon grew to include three younger sisters and he grew up in the company of his five brothers and sisters. Bryan’s childhood was spent between school years in Denver and summers in the mountains of Gilpin County, where the family built a cabin near the town of Black Hawk. His love for the Colorado mountains and wild places developed early and remained with him for the rest of his life.
Bryan graduated from Denver’s South High School in 1976 where he was active in ROTC. Following in his father’s footsteps, Bryan joined the United States Army, where his life as a soldier shaped his identity and his love of country. During his enlistment, he traveled to Texas, Kansas, and Georgia, and was deployed to Germany, where he worked with a field artillery unit in the shadow of the Cold War. As a young man Bryan married Lori Ann Mortimer and together they had a daughter, Shannon Elaine Dennison. Bryan and Lori later divorced, but he maintained a close relationship with his daughter. Throughout her childhood, Bryan took Shannon on adventures throughout Colorado and the American West, passing on his love of history, National Parks, and the Rocky Mountains. As an adult, Shannon made this into her career, and Bryan delighted in visiting her and sharing stories about her work in history and archaeology.
Bryan had a wide variety of interests and, upon being honorably discharged from the Army, was challenged to settle on a particular career path. He again followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the security force at Rocky Flats nuclear plant while simultaneously earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Metropolitan State University in Denver. Bryan remained at Rocky Flats until the plant closed in 1992. During this time he met and married his second wife, Pam, and became stepfather to Caleb and Charis. Bryan relocated with them to Jacksonville, Florida, but homesickness and his love for Colorado eventually drew the family back to Denver. His second marriage later ended and Bryan took on a new career as a tow truck driver. Bryan loved the work because it gave him the chance to help people, and he loved aiding stranded strangers and refusing payment when people found themselves in a bind. The work and lifestyle eventually took a toll on his health, and after the sudden passing of his father, Bryan took over as a caregiver for his disabled brother and his aging mother.
In 2011, with the birth of his grandson Porter Dennison, Bryan took on a new and cherished role as grandpa. When Shannon returned to work after maternity leave, Bryan cared for Porter full time and they formed and extremely close bond. Porter remained the light of his life to the end.
Bryan will be remembered for his generous spirit, his breadth of knowledge, his love of Colorado, his passion for history, and his love for his family and close friends.
Bryan was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Elva, his eldest brother David, and his niece, Jessica. He is survived by his daughter Shannon, grandson Porter, son-in-law Daniel, step-granddaughters Meryl and Madison, his brother Kevin, sister-in-law Mary, sisters Gayle and Susan, nephew Christopher, great-nieces and nephew Chloe, Lacey, and William, and his dear friend Beth.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 7th, 2019, at 9:30 am in the Olinger pavilion at Crown Hill Cemetery. An informal gathering for friends and family will take place at a local park pavilion following services. In lieu of flowers, Bryan would have loved to see donations in his memory made to the Denver Mountain Parks Foundation.
DONATIONS
- Denver Mountain Parks Foundation
Services
- Funeral Service Sunday, July 7, 2019
Memories
Bryan James Dennison
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYAndree Swanson
July 16, 2019
Bryan, it is hard to believe you are gone. I will miss your stories about being in the Army. I will miss your memories about South High. I don't know who is going to give me advice on being a grandparent, but I do know that you were a role model to follow.
It is getting harder to lose a fellow South High Rebel. You were too young. We will miss you at our 50th reunion.
Rest in peace. May your family enjoy their fond memories of you.
Andree and Craig Swanson
Marie Warren (Tullos)
July 7, 2019
We are so sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Bryan. ~Another Rebel in Heaven~~~~
Lorie Duran
July 3, 2019
Condolences to the Dennison Family. Sending Prayers.
Lorie ( Knecht ) Duran
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan and Porter
FROM THE FAMILY
Family photo approx 1964, Bill, Elva, David, Kevin, Bryan and Linda
FROM THE FAMILY
David and Kevin on the couch with baby Bryan, about 1958
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan and one of many foster babies about 1961
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan on Vrain Street, about 1962
FROM THE FAMILY
Bill Dennison with his three sons about 1958, David, Bryan and Kevin
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Bryan and Kevin in front of the Vrain St. house about 1961
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan in the back yard on Vrain St. about 1963
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All the Dennison kids about 1971, David, Kevin, Bryan, Linda, Susan and Gayle
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan about 1980,
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Bryan, David, Mom and Dad at the cabin, probably in the late 90s
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan, Kevin and David dress for church at Vrain St. house, about 1962
FROM THE FAMILY
Kevin, David and Bryan about 1960 or 61
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Bryan, David and Kevin along Apex Gulch, near the cabin, about 1962
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan on Mt. White (adjacent to Mt. Antero) looking for minerals. Little Brown Creek and the Sagauche Range in the background
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan posed on Mt. White in the Sagauche range
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Bryan posed on Mt. White with Jones Peak in the background. About 1995 or so.
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David, Bryan, Bill and Elva at the Rocky Flats Presidential Citation ceremony for those who fought the 1969 Plutonium line fire. 1972
FROM THE FAMILY
Family picture from about 1998. Shannon, Bryan, David, Jessica, Christopher, Mary and Kevin in back row. Gayle, Mom, Dad, Steve and Susan in the front.
FROM THE FAMILY
Family portrait from about 1964 or 1965
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Linnen and Dennison family. Lavinia, Willard, Don, Elva, Kevin, David, Bryan, Linda, Susan and Gayle. About 1973
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan and Shannon on horseback at Kevin and Mary's house near Golden. About 1982.
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Bill Dennison and Bryan fishing in the pond at Camp Hale. Probably late 70s
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Bill and Elva Dennison on their honeymoon, 1952
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Bryan laughing with grandson Porter, about 2018
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Bryan with grandson Porter, about 2017
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Bryan with Porter, about 2018
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Bryan above Central City in the 90s. He and his father had been shooting his 1886 Winchester 45-70 rifle
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David, Kevin and Bryan about 1960
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Bryan and Porter
FROM THE FAMILY
Family photo approx 1964, Bill, Elva, David, Kevin, Bryan and Linda
FROM THE FAMILY
David and Kevin on the couch with baby Bryan, about 1958
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan and one of many foster babies about 1961
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan on Vrain Street, about 1962
FROM THE FAMILY
Bill Dennison with his three sons about 1958, David, Bryan and Kevin
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Bryan and Kevin in front of the Vrain St. house about 1961
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan in the back yard on Vrain St. about 1963
FROM THE FAMILY
All the Dennison kids about 1971, David, Kevin, Bryan, Linda, Susan and Gayle
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan about 1980,
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan, David, Mom and Dad at the cabin, probably in the late 90s
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan, Kevin and David dress for church at Vrain St. house, about 1962
FROM THE FAMILY
Kevin, David and Bryan about 1960 or 61
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan, David and Kevin along Apex Gulch, near the cabin, about 1962
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan on Mt. White (adjacent to Mt. Antero) looking for minerals. Little Brown Creek and the Sagauche Range in the background
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan posed on Mt. White in the Sagauche range
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan posed on Mt. White with Jones Peak in the background. About 1995 or so.
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Bryan, Bill and Elva at the Rocky Flats Presidential Citation ceremony for those who fought the 1969 Plutonium line fire. 1972
FROM THE FAMILY
Family picture from about 1998. Shannon, Bryan, David, Jessica, Christopher, Mary and Kevin in back row. Gayle, Mom, Dad, Steve and Susan in the front.
FROM THE FAMILY
Family portrait from about 1964 or 1965
FROM THE FAMILY
Linnen and Dennison family. Lavinia, Willard, Don, Elva, Kevin, David, Bryan, Linda, Susan and Gayle. About 1973
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan and Shannon on horseback at Kevin and Mary's house near Golden. About 1982.
FROM THE FAMILY
Bill Dennison and Bryan fishing in the pond at Camp Hale. Probably late 70s
FROM THE FAMILY
Bill and Elva Dennison on their honeymoon, 1952
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan laughing with grandson Porter, about 2018
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan with grandson Porter, about 2017
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan with Porter, about 2018
FROM THE FAMILY
Bryan above Central City in the 90s. He and his father had been shooting his 1886 Winchester 45-70 rifle
FROM THE FAMILY
David, Kevin and Bryan about 1960