Dennis Jerome Smith

Dennis Jerome Smith was born on September 30, 1939 to Harry and Bertha (Engesser) Smith in Tracy, MN. After graduating from Butterfield High School, Dennis joined the Navy following a family tradition of Navy service, which included his father and 6 brothers. He served in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Fleets on carriers, heavy cruisers, supply ships, and destroyers. Upon his retirement as Senior Chief Petty Officer, his skills as a marine engineer followed him to a second career with General Electric for another 20 years of service at sea on U.S. Navy and commercial vessels from nuclear submarines to cruise ships. On July 28, 1962, Dennis was united in marriage to Movane (Juhnke) Smith at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Comfrey. Throughout 55 years of marriage, their passions for travel with family and friends, fishing (from walleye to wahoo), and ferocious card games filled their lives. Dennis died unexpectedly on Friday, August 11, 2017 in Comfrey, MN at the age of 77. Surviving Dennis are his wife Movane of Portsmouth, VA; son Jay and wife Erica Smith; grandsons - Tyler Patrick Smith and Colin Dennis Smith all of Richmond, VA; siblings - Cleone Flynn, Madonna Jablinski, and Connie Berndt; sisters-in-law - Jackie Smith, Marlene Cannon, and Mary Ellen Juhnke; brothers-in-law - Glenn Berndt and Thomas Juhnke-McPhee; and more than 45 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings - Cyril (Bud), Vincent, Duane, John, Robert, and Marcella Turner. Donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Memorial Mass 11:00 am Saturday, September 2, 2017 St. Paul's Catholic Church 218 Field St. N Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019 Inurnment 3:00 pm Friday, September 22, 2017 Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery 5310 Milners Road Suffolk, Virginia, United States 23434