Dennis Doza

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Dennis T. Doza, 68, of Perryville died Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., after a five-year battle with lymphoma with his family by his side.

He was born Dec. 14, 1940, at Kaskaskia Island, Ill., son of Travers and Lorraine Wilson Doza. He grew up on the island with his sister, Dorothy, and uncle, Larry Wilson. He attended school there, high school in Chester, Ill., and college at Columbia University and Southern Illinois University.

Denny married Nancy Gremaud on Aug. 27, 1960, at Sereno, Mo. Together they farmed and built a business for outdoorsmen. They raised four kids and nurtured 10 grandkids.

He was an avid outdoorsman. In general he loved to be outside either duck hunting, fishing or just enjoying the day from the porch swing. Trips to Canada to fish for northern pike and walleye were a passion.

His greatest joy was the time he spent teaching his grandkids to play rummy, bait hooks, train dogs, tend to the cows, drive a car or tractor on the farm, and listening to them play the piano.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Doza of Perryville; his parents, Travers and Lorraine Doza of St. Mary, Mo.; a son, Eric (Renee) Doza of St. Mary; two daughters, Denise (Ed) Martin of Helena, Mont., Ann (Mark) Winkler of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Dorothy Kertz of Ste. Genevieve, Mo.; 10 grandchildren, Danielle Brown, Jonathan Bremer, Greg Winkler, Kelsey Martin, Will Elledge, Makenzie Winkler, Alexis Doza, Gregory Martin, Peyton Doza, Quinton Doza; several nieces and nephews; and many good friends and family.

He may have only been one person in the world, but he meant the world to us.

He was preceded in death by a son, Chris Doza.

Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ the Savior Catholic Church in Brewer, Mo. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Lymphoma Foundation or St. Vincent de Paul general school fund.