Dennis D Stark

Dennis D Stark, 77 of Grand Island went to his heavenly home on Friday, March 21, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service will be at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Derek Apfel, CFC officiating. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

Dennis was born on March 5, 1948, in Grand Island to Calvin and Stella (Pirnie) Stark. He lived his life in Grand Island and received his education at Grand Island Senior High. He was united in marriage to Sharilyn Stark, to whom they shared three children, Troy, Matthew, and Katina, they would later divorce. In 1992, he entered marriage with Barbara Umphress. The couple shared a home in Grand Island where they had many animals including dogs (Pebbles, Toni, Lucky, Sissy, Bandit, Billy, Bo, Boozer, Cisco, Comet, Toby, and Sable) cats, horses, cows and chickens. They had a passion to rescue new fur friends to make part of the family.

Dennis was an owner and operator truck driver for many years. He had many jobs throughout his life, but that was one he was most passionate about and missed it after retirement. He also enjoyed being a volunteer fireman for Grand Island Rural Fire Department. He shared many memories being on the department. Dennis was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and past member Peace Lutheran Church. Throughout his life he was a member of many clubs around Grand Island including the American Legion, VFW, Saddle Club, and the Platte Deutche. He enjoyed camping, grilling, fishing, showing and teaching his grandkids things, attending their activites, teasing everyone and getting into water fights in the summer (through the kitchen window), and helping/teaching his stepdaughters how to fix house stuff they knew nothing about. Most of all he loved his wife in all the good times and the bad.

Dennis is preceded in death by his dad, Calvin Stark; mother, Stella Weil; stepfather, Al Weil; and son, Troy.

Left to cherish his memory, wife, Barbara Stark; stepdaughters: Brenda Murphy of Grand Island, Denise (Korey) Kreitman of Laramie, Wyoming; Tina Murphy of Grand Island, and Annette Murphy of Grand Island; son, Matt Stark of Grand Island; daughter, Katina Barger of Cotesfield; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Dennis) Kennedy; brother-in-law, Walter Umphress; and lifelong friends, Larry Larson and Chuck Hoffman.