Dennis E. Mays Sr., 86, of Black River Falls, died Tuesday April 1, 2025.
Dennis was born November 11, 1938, in Black River Falls to Virgil and Vera
(Rutherford) Mays. He attended schools in Black River Falls and Hazel Crest, Illinois.
He enlisted in the Navy at age 17 in 1956 and served 21 years. He was a flight director
(yellow jacket) and worked on flight decks on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers including the
USS Essex, USS Wasp, and the USS Enterprise. He served off the shore of Viet Nam
on the USS Enterprise during the war. Dennis married Joanne Higgins in 1966, and they
had two children, daughter Denise and son Dennis Jr. Dennis toured six continents
aboard naval carriers, and the family was stationed in several states including
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington, and California.
Dennis retired from the Navy as a E5 Petty Officer on October 23 rd , 1976 and he and
his family moved back to Black River Falls. He worked at D&S Manufacturing for fifteen
years and then at Ashley Furniture. His wife Joanne passed away suddenly on
December 11, 1995. Dennis retired in 1996 due to health reasons.
Dennis married Joan L. Bever Hanson on April 18 th , 1998, at St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church in Black River Falls. Dennis enjoyed woodworking and did projects for family
members. He made furniture including side tables, scones, cradles, Christmas trees
and reindeer, and toys for children.
Dennis and Joan enjoyed doing home remodeling projects and spent a lot of time
updating and maintaining Joan’s rental property. Dennis was an active member of the
Guardian Angels Parish and belonged to the Knights of Columbus (third and fourth
degree), American Legion and Pineview Auxiliary. Dennis and Joan had a camper and a
pontoon boat in Chetek which they enjoyed in the summers for sixteen years. They
traveled with their beloved cats, Charlie and Fluff, to Chetek and trips to Indiana. Dennis
was a man of deep faith, and his greatest joy was spending time with his family and
friends. He was a lover of all chocolate chip cookies, M&Ms and lemon meringue pie.
Dennis had a smile that could light up a room.
In addition to woodworking, he enjoyed feeding the squirrels and birds, fishing and
going on pontoon rides on the lake at Chetek. He was always up for a card game,
shaking dice and was a great cribbage player. Dennis loved watching old western
movies, listening to country music, and attending concerts and sporting events. He was
a huge fan of the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee
Bucks and all the University of Wisconsin sporting events. Dennis and Joan traveled to
various places throughout the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. They also
traveled to Mexico, Panama, Boliva and Ireland.
He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Denise (Ed) Bartz, Mattawan Michigan,
stepson Larry M. (Taia) Hanson, Black River Falls, grandchildren Sam Bartz , Chicago,
Illinois, Katherine and Joanna Bartz, Mattawan Michigan, Joseph and Jacob Mays,
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, brother Tim Mays, San Tan Valley, Arizona, step grandchildren
Allison (Drew) Eckelberg, Kyra Marshall (Cole) Byington, Jessica (Conrad) Olson, step
great grandchildren, Elena Grace Byington, Adriana and Peggy Olson, Brayden and
Tristen Steinhoff, brother- in- law Tom Bever, sisters- in -law Dorothy and Jill Bever,
many nieces and nephews and cats Leo and Mica.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Mays and Vera Peterson; his wife
Joanne Mays, son Dennis E. Mays Jr., brothers Virgil (Buddy) Mays, James (Donald)
Mays, Dale Bowen and Meredith Malchow; mother-in-law, Lois Bever, brother-in-law
Richard (Dick) Bever, sisters-in-law Janie Malchow and Phyllis Mays, and cats Fluff and
Charlie.
Celebration of Life services will be held on Saturday, May 10 th at the Buswell Funeral
Home (106 S. 2 nd Street, Black River Falls, WI) with visitation starting at 9:30 am and
service starting at 11am. Funeral attendees are asked to park along the street or in the
municipal lot adjacent to City Hall. A luncheon will be held at American Legion 200 (421
WI-54, Black River Falls, WI) immediately following the service. Military rites and burial
will take place at Sullivan Cemetery at 2pm in Brockway.