STOUGHTON - Dennis Bruce Derke, age 84, of Stoughton, Wis., passed away on Thursday October 24, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. He was the son of Genevive and Reuben Derke, born in Madison in July of 1940. He married Judith Ann Derke (Sandvig) on December 9, 1960, in Beloit, Wis.

Dennis worked throughout high school doing ROTC before deploying to serve in the United States Army. He spent time during his military experience in Okinawa, Japan. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he worked for the AT&T Wisconsin Bell phone company for 26 years. He took pride in his participation in the U.S. Army, spending time on the board of the Stoughton Area Veterans Memorial and worked tirelessly to help build it to honor the fallen soldiers.

Dennis spent a lot of time volunteering and building handicap accessible cabins at Mirror Lake and Devil's Lake Wisconsin State Parks, which he was able to enjoy later on in life with his own family. He enjoyed woodworking, traveling to Canada for annual fishing trips with his friends, gardening and doing yard work, photography, going for motorcycle rides with his dog, Charlie, and being outdoors.

Dennis is survived by his son, Kyle Derke; granddaughters, Megan (Anish) Thapa, Nicole Derke and Paige (Mitch) Galles; and sister, Sharon (Joe) Dillett. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith; brother, Frank (Sonny); and son, Kent.

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON STOUGHTON FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St., Stoughton, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024, with a memorial service of remembrance beginning at 3 p.m., with military honors to follow the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton

Funeral & Cremation Care

1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.

(608) 873-4590

Dennis Bruce Derke

July 23, 1940 - October 24, 2024

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