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 businessman, 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, former wife Joanne Burgess of South Carolina; many cousins, 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.

He kept the following poem by Carice Williams:

Across the miles I have a friend

As dear a friend can be

And O how often thoughts go out

Far far across the sea

For friendships with its tender thoughts

Erases weary miles

And brings us close together with

Fond memories and smiles

So I reach out to clasp your hand

Across the sea and shore

And for awhile it seems as tho

We’re face to face once more

In his honor, phone a friend, reach out to someone in need, lend a hand, and

donate to your favorite charity.