Dennis Lee Barber, 71, passed away September 29 at his home in Phoenix, Arizona with loved ones by his side.

Dennis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and spent most of his childhood there, later moving to Wisconsin where he finished high school. Dennis developed a love of camping with his family during his childhood, and he carried this passion of camping, hunting and fishing with him throughout his life. In high school in Brookfield, Wisconsin, he was an award-winning swimmer, and also in Wisconsin he became a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers (no matter where he lived).

In his mid-20s, he started working in the food business, first in sales and later in the food distribution business, a career that would span over 40 years, with various distributors. He began employment with Shamrock Foods in Phoenix in 1996 and continued in multiple roles at Shamrock until his retirement 25 years later. He was well respected in this industry given the many roles that he held over the years. When not working, Dennis was actively involved in Scouting, both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in the Ahwatukee area, serving in leadership roles until his son Cole became an Eagle Scout in 2011. 

Upon retirement, he and his wife, Tricia, started traveling at a relatively intense pace, both in a travel trailer and throughout many parts of Europe, hiking and sightseeing through National Parks in the U.S. and iconic European hiking trails. While at home, he became interested in bread baking, in addition to grilling, or smoking food for dinner almost every day, a habit his family did not discourage and will miss daily.

Dennis embraced the phrase “Live until you die”, and his family can attest to his will to do just that, given that he traveled to France with his family less than a month before he died.

His survivors include his wife of 38 years, Tricia; his son Cole (Jenae); his daughter Andrea Shike (Jason), sons Jason and Eric (Chrissy) and five grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters Katharine Essex of Madison, Wisconsin and Julie Kortbein of Reedsburg, Wisconsin and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Janice Miller Dennis and stepfather Ray Dennis.

A Celebration of Life will be held in November in Phoenix with details provided separately. The family requests donations to The National Park Foundation in Dennis’s name in lieu of flowers.