Dennis Michael Willey
July 21, 1952 – December 11, 2018
Dennis passed peacefully from this world on December 11 after an extended and courageous battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Dennis Michael Willey was born in Milwaukee, WI to Thomas M. Willey and Mildred R. (Potochich) Willey. Dennis is preceded in death by his father Thomas.

Dennis is survived by his wife Debbie (Kelnhofer) Willey of Milwaukee, WI & Kingwood, TX and his mother Mildred Willey of Milwaukee, WI – Taylorsville, KY.

He is also survived by four sisters and two brothers; Sherry T (Willey) Anderson and her husband Kirk of Northville, MI. Brian T. Willey and his wife Gale (Gibbs) Willey of West Allis, WI. Debbie (Willey) Wanke and her husband Arthur of Milwaukee, WI. Charles F. Willey and his wife Patti (Peterson) Willey of Taylorsville, KY. Kathryn M. (Willey) Hardy and her husband Dana of Somerset, KY. Kari A. (Willey) Cobarrubias and her husband John of Hanover Park, IL. His Mother-in-Law Hazel Kelnhofer, sister and brother-in-law Pat and Andy Stathas of Wauwatosa, WI. Joanne Bellis of Milwaukee, WI. Scott and Maria Kelnhofer of Arizona.

Dennis is also survived by countless nieces and nephews with whom he maintained a fond and loving relationship. Anyone familiar with Dennis will understand that he was a huge lover of his dogs. Dennis treasured his time with them at home, on the road or in the field. This list of persons surviving his passing would not be complete without listing his current dogs, Hazey and Letty.

Dennis was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI and grew to be an avid sportsman who excelled in the sports of Football, Baseball and Wrestling at Boy’s Technical High School in Milwaukee, graduating in 1970. In 1972 Dennis was drafted into the United States Army where he served as a Military Policeman and a narcotics detection dog handler. Dennis was proud to acknowledge owing everything in his professional life to his service in the United States Army. Upon his departure from the Army, the United States Customs Service recruited Dennis to assist in pioneering their fledgling Canine Enforcement branch. In 1974, Dennis began his Custom’s career as a dog handler in Port Huron Michigan and served in Port Huron until 1989. In 1975, Dennis married Debbie, his life-long friend and companion.

In 1989, Dennis and Debbie accepted a position with Customs in Houston, TX where Dennis was promoted to Chief Inspector. Dennis took an active role in the initial push to have a new Federal Inspection Service (FIS) Building built at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport. He was also instrumental in designing that FIS which at the time was the largest Custom’s inspection station in the United States.

In 2008, Dennis was promoted to the position of Field Director for Houston’s Customs –Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) field office. This Customs agency is a supply chain security program led by US Customs and is focused on improving the security of private companies’ supply chains with respect international trade and the threat of terrorism. Dennis was influential in the efforts to increase awareness amongst the trade partners involved with the C-TPAT mission and objectives. Those efforts greatly improved security awareness in the global movement of cargo world-wide. In his capacity Dennis was afforded the opportunity to travel the world in the pursuit of this mission. Dennis’ travels took him literally around the world for which he was grateful.

Among Dennis’ numerous awards and achievements in his capacity as a US Customs Employee, two stand out. The first was an award he received while performing his duties in Port Huron, MI. While performing an inspection on an in-bound train from Canada, an immigration officer had her leg severed by the train being inspected. The quick response by Dennis, without question resulted in the immigration officer surviving that accident. For that he was awarded the Commissioners Meritorious Achievement Award.

The second was a proclamation by Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner, declaring January 6, 2017, Dennis Michael Willey Day in the City of Houston. The proclamation detailed Dennis’ lifelong commitment and service as a truly dedicated public servant which of which he took very seriously.

Among Dennis’ many loves was following his hometown (Wisconsin) sports teams of the, Badgers, Bucks, Brewers and his beloved GREEN BAY PACKERS. Dennis also enjoyed having the luxury of having the secondary line-up of teams in the Rockets, Astros and Texans. Dennis’ love of sports is well documented in his collection of sports memorabilia and photographs. One of his most treasured was the picture he had taken with Bucky Badger during his attendance at the 2000 Rose Bowl.

Dennis was a regular patron of his favorite sports bar, Molly’s Pub in Kingwood, TX. Dennis was instrumental in putting Molly’s Pub on the map as being a Packer Fan’s destination to watch the Green Bay Packers while in the Houston area. That effort included having that Packer’s bar location chronicled in the Green Bay Chronicle’s publication, ‘The Green and Gold’. Ultimately this resulted in his developing an entire second ‘Family’ which can be found at Molly’s Pub for every Packer game.

Even in death, Dennis’ pursuit in support of the Green Bay Packers continues. Dennis is currently ranked in the, ‘Top Ten’ of nominees for the 2018 designation for the, ‘Ultimate Fan’ sponsored by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. The voting for the number one spot will commence from January 2019, with the selection being announce on or about February 20, 2019. Voting can be done at, Packers.com (hint-hint).

As accomplished as Dennis was in the field sports, (Football, Baseball and Golf) he was just as accomplished in the, ‘Barroom Olympics’ comprised of bowling, pool, cards, and DARTS. And he was humble in both defeat and (more often) victory. In the realm of Darts, his opponents would more often than not measure their successes against him in the margins of their losses.

In the spirit of sports and competition Dennis organized, and with the help of others ran a golf tournament which began as a small group of friends. Through Dennis’ efforts, that tournament eventually morphed into a continuing charity tournament for Multiple Sclerosis. The tournament was named the, WUWO (ask someone who knows about the name and details).

In the list of characteristics exhibited by Dennis, one would be extremely hard press to associate a negative with him. Dennis was a loving, caring, generous and thoughtful person whose zest for life was unmatched. Dennis was a confident person with a wonderful sense of humor and some peculiarities which were matched only by his wardrobe. Dennis is surely on the top ten list of every mail order catalog company in the country. And when he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he’d design it and have it made-to-order. They will miss him.

In life Dennis adopted several mottos which he truly embraced and consistently expressed (and wore). The most prevalent of those were; “Keep Smiling”, “Life is Good” & “Remember Who Loves Ya”. These philosophies were not just catchphrases to Dennis, they were Gospel. Dennis was a huge believer in maintaining a positive attitude which was constantly reflected throughout his life and eventual battle with cancer.

In conversations with Dennis pertaining to his cancer, he would make what typically could or might have been a very difficult conversation for others, so easy. Never did Dennis or Debbie allow the hardships they were facing day-to-day to become an issue for others. The courage they exhibited allowed everyone around them to be at ease, for this we are grateful. So much so that one of Dennis’ nephews was noted to remark, “Dennis really knows how to die”! And unless you had the opportunity to be with Dennis and Debbie during this time of his life one would think that to be a strange comment. For us that were there, ‘We Understand’.

So Dennis until we’re, “Together Again” Rest in Peace.

As much as Dennis hated his illness it was difficult for him to see children struggling with various forms of cancer. In lieu of flowers Dennis wanted any contributions to go to MD Anderson Children’s Cancer
Hospital. Donations should be made on behalf of Dennis Michael Willey at, gifts.mdanderson.org

Celebration of life will take place on or about his birthday July 21, 2019.