Dennis Head

Picha Funeral Home, Locally Owned and Operated

Providing Friendly, Courteous and Dignified Funeral Service

Dennis Ralph Head, age 62 of Oxford, Wisconsin, a very good man with a great heart, peacefully passed away on April 24, 2008 at his residence due to complications of cancer, with his wife and daughter, Leanne at his side. Dennis was born to Clark and Elizabeth “Betty” (Taylor) Head on September 19^th, 1945 in Saline, Michigan.  From 1966-67 he served his country in Viet Nam.  He began his career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1968, working in Milan, Michigan; Oxford, Wisconsin; Lompoc, California, and back to Oxford, retiring after 29 years. Four months later, he resumed working at the prison as a Janitorial Services Instructor for another 8 years.  When he was diagnosed in August of 2005, he had to leave this position.  It was during his first tour at the Oxford prison that he met his wife, Zona Ripley. They married in 1975 and celebrated their 33^rd anniversary on March 22.  For the past 11 years he was the President of the Village of Oxford and had served as a trustee for 4 years prior to that.  He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford and was ordained as an Elder on the Session.  As a 29 year active member of the Oxford Lions Club he filled many officer positions.  This is a brief capsule of his life, but it does not begin to describe the man he was.  He was loving, honest, and compassionate, with a great sense of integrity.  Dennis was intelligent with a quick wit.  His passions were sports, particularly baseball, socializing, gardening, reading, movies, TV, and trivia.  He endured years of treatment, side effects, and pain without a complaint, to the very end.  He was a man that could never say “no” to his loved ones.  This was such an easy man to live with and love.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Zona; his children, Leanne (Russell) McGuire of Oxford, Kirk (Joanne) of Portage, and Marci (Steven) Mullens of Oxford; grandchildren, Danelle, Brittany, Jacey, Jacob, Joshua, and Marlee, great-grandchildren, Landon and Tierney.  Also surviving him are his brothers and sisters, Larry (Joyce) of Clinton, MI, Jean Scheidl of Tarrytown, NY, Lonny (Mila) of Cedarburg, WI, Kenneth (Terrezinha) of Ann Arbor, MI, Diana (Joe) Pius of Grosse Point Woods, MI, and Leanne Perry of Huntsville, AL; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Albert and Bernice Ripley; a friend and brother-in-law, David Ripley in 2003; son, Kent in 2004; and innumerable relatives and friends.

Dennis would not like to have us cry as we lay his weary body to rest, for it was only a small piece of who he was.  The most important parts of Dennis will live on forever in the lives and hearts he touched as he made his way through his life.  Please remember him with love and happiness.  For nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much.

The entire family would like to send a thank you to Dr. Michael Frontiera and the staff of nurses at the Dean Oncology Clinic for the special care they gave Dennis for almost 3 years.   

Memorial funeral services will be held Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 12:00 Noon at the Oxford Funeral Home in Oxford with Reverend Carol Hermann officiating. Private interment services will be held. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of services at 12 Noon.