Dennis K. Davis, 73, died after an extended illness on April 6, 2025 at OSF St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was
born January 10, 1952 in Bloomington Illinois to Ralph I. Davis and Lois M. Romine Davis. He moved from
Normal to Downs, IL in middle school and graduated from Tri Valley High school in 1970. In 1971 he
enlisted the U.S. Army as a radio Signal Corpsman serving in Korea and then in New Jersey, ending active
duty in 1974.

In 1976 he met Janet Beach, and they married in January 1978. Their son Matthew G. Davis was born in
June 1979. Dennis and Janet remained married until his death, 47 years, 2 months, and 6 days.
Dennis worked for GTE/Verizon, ISU, Eastland Mall, and Steak N Shake throughout the years, but his real
career was being a father and husband. Dennis was a stay at home dad for years in the 1980’s. He loved
teaching Matt how to fish and hunt, and was always camping and hiking. He loved music and had a band
in high school, and playing drums and guitar, but could play almost any instrument including a
marxophone and digeridoo. He had a beautiful voice, and wrote music as well.

Dennis became a member of Vietnow and walked in many parades and awareness marches for Vietnam
Era veterans, including a walk from Springfield to Bloomington in 1987. He stood guard at the Moving
Wall and always remembered the friends he lost in the service of our country. When thanked for his
service he always answered “That’s what we did then. We served when we were needed.”
Dennis was an avid gardener and loved planting flowers, doing his best to stay ahead of his nemeses,
ground squirrels and Japanese beetles. He added photography to his hobbies, and most of the subjects
were found in his garden.

After retirement, he became a huge Corn Belters and Kernel’s League fan, and would often be seen
cheering on his favorite Ground Sloths and yelling at every bad call. He was very proud of “his boys.”
Dennis is survived by his wife and son, and his brother Ralph T. Davis (Virginia Gore) and several nieces
and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and one great grandnephew. His parents preceded him in
death.

On April 25, 2025 in celebration of Dennis’s life there will be an internment of ashes with a color guard
at 12:00pm in Downs Cemetery, Downs Illinois, followed by a Celebration of Life at Dooley Park Pavilion
in Downs, Illinois at 1:00pm. This will be a potluck dessert bar because Dennis never met a desert he
didn’t love. Everyone is welcome to attend and bring a dessert to share if they choose. Please dress
casually as Dennis hated suits.

Memorials may be made to the Illinois Cancer Center Foundation or to Pheasants Forever.
https://illinoiscancercarefoundation.org/
https://pheasantsforever.org/