Dennis E. Burgess, 80 of Cascade, Iowa passed away on Friday September 18, 2026 at MercyOne Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa…

A Private family visitation will be held at the Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade Iowa.   A celebration of Life will be held at a later date

He was born on March 21, 1946 in Denver son of Bill and Mildred(green) Burgess.  Dennis grew up near Franktown, Colorado where his love for the outdoors and work ethic were set firmly in place….He was always eager and willing to help neighbors and family on farms and ranches .

He spent his free time riding his horse and tinkering in his grandpa’s barn.

He majored in Engineering at Colorado State University where he milked prize winning dairy cows at the  ag center for “walking around money” after college he moved to Chicago, and worked and eventually owned Humboldt Mfg. Co. where he Designed new products and traveled the world  growing the business and making lifelong connections and Friendships.

When most men would buy a red sports car ,  Dennis bought a farm near Cascade because it reminded him of his farm boy roots. A place to get back to the land, get his hands dirty enjoy hunting , fishing and

Riding his favorite horse “W.”  Dennis was like the energizer bunny he never stopped working and caring for the. People he loved.  Especially his children.   He enjoyed being a young dad to Julie and Wendy with his first wife  Joanne.  He felt blessed to become a dad again when he and Debbie adopted their boys Christopher and Kevin.   Now a proud grandad he truly loved being with his grandkids Henry and Nora.

He was an adventurer;  once jumped in the Arctic Ocean, an inventor and a tough and smart Business man,   but most of all a good man with a kind heart and generous spirit.

As one employee responded. When hearing of his passing.  He made the world a better place

He will be missed by all who knew him but especially his family;  wife Deborah. Children. Julie(kris) burgess Of Colorado , Wendy Burgess of Park Ridge, Illinois Christopher (Ryan) of Chicago and Kevin (Judson)  Of Philadelphia 2 grandchildren  Henry and Nora Lakin of Park Ridge; His sisters Linda(Kerm) Huckabay and Linette Guy of Colorado.  Sister in law Diane(Mike) Harsch and brother in law David (Nancy) Witte from Phoenix Arizona and former wife Joanne Burgess of South Carolina Many cousin’s nieces, nephews and friends

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mildred, brother Dean(Nancy) and his brother in law Wayne Guy.