Obituary of Dennis Edward Strefling Dennis Edward Strefling, 71, of Bay City, our resilient, loving, brave, kind, and generous husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend soared into heaven on the evening of February 24, 2018 after a courageous 12-year battle with cancer. Dennis was born in Bay City on July 12, 1946, the son of Edward Strefling and Hulda (Sommer) Gast. As a child, Dennis enjoyed going up north to his grandparents’ cabin and was often known as “Dennis the Menace” – always very mischievous.
Dennis graduated from Central High School, the class of 1964, and went on to attend DeVry University in Chicago. He was a Delta College instructor, a high school teacher, a Voc. Ed.
instructor, a raft guide, a Journeyman tool & die maker, an entrepreneur, a business owner, but above all, Dennis’ heart was in the music he wrote, sang, and played and the inventions he created. Dennis holds many patents on many creations, but his most well known one would be for the shunt machine – deeming him the “Shunt Machine Man”. On January 11, 1981, in a crowded room, Dennis met the love of his life, the former, Susan Beemer.
The two were married on November 3, 1984 while on a white-water rafting trip down the Ocoee River in Tennessee, sharing over 38 wonderful years together. Dennis, also known by many as Stoney, loved to ride with the St. Helen Iron Mustang Motorcycle Club – where he was a member. He enjoyed barbeques, campfires, traveling, and eating good food – never passing up a tomahawk steak, lobster, or mussels.
Stoney was also an accomplished musician, singer, songwriter, and all-around Rockstar; making his very own album. Above all, Dennis loved his family, he loved spending time with them and always felt they were his greatest blessings and accomplishments in life. “Our Eagle has soared”.
Dennis leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Susie; daughters, Regina (Matthew) Woods, Amy Strefling-Peterson (Daniel), and Stephanie (Rob) Mumaugh; grandchildren, Jordan (Marlene) Phillips, Austin Woods, Mattisyn Woods, Lindyn Krieg, Lauren Peterson, Meghan Peterson, Kyle Howell, Nicholas Mumaugh, and Kailee Mumaugh; his mother, Hulda Gast; siblings, Cynthia Hack, Kathy (Scott) Reynolds, Kris (John) Dalfino, and Karl (Celeste) Beemer; mother-in-law, Mary Beemer, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Dennis was welcomed home to heaven by his father, Edward (Elizabeth) Strefling; brother-in-law, Robert Hack; step-father, Norman (Sam) Gast; father-in-law, Phil Beemer, and niece, Jennifer Lasker. Dennis’ family will be present to receive visitors on Friday, March 2, 2018 from 3:00 PM until the time of his 6:00 PM Sharing of Memories at Skorupski Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 955 N. Pine Rd.
, Hampton Twp. The family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. J. Abramson and the McLaren Hospice team. Memorial contributions may be directed to the wishes of the family.
Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family online at www. skorupskis.com.
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