Dennis Vandergiesen

Mulvane - Dennis James VanderGiesen passed away on July 23rd at Brookdale East Assisted Living Facility in Wichita, Kansas surrounded by family after a prolonged battle with early-onset Dementia. At the time of his passing, Dennis was 78 years old.

Dennis was born in Osborne, Kansas on September 28th, 1946 to James and Esther (Bowers) VanderGiesen and lived and grew up in Downs, Kansas. He graduated from high school in Downs, Kansas in 1964 before he attended Washburn University, playing four years for the Washburn Ichabod’s baseball team and earning a degree in Business Administration. Dennis also earned a Master’s degree in Accountancy from New Mexico University later in life.

Dennis married Carolyn Kay Ouderkirk on November 22, 1967 at the United Methodist Church in Downs, Kansas. For over 55 years they remained married until Carolyn’s death, and resided nearly half that time in Kansas and the remainder in New Mexico.

Throughout the years, Dennis’s passion centered on two main areas, family and the family businesses. Although a single child growing up, Dennis’s love for his parents, spouse and children knew no boundaries. That love knew no boundaries after his children, William (Bill), Tim, and Jere were born and continued to the day of his death. Nothing, however, compared to the amount of love, compassion, and support he provided to his grandchildren, Kyler, Ainsley, Brooke, and Harper, especially in the realm of sports, music, dance and other activities as well as the enjoyment he received by being a near full time grandfather for the last twenty-five years after his retirement.

Dennis’s business and professional life primarily revolved around the various family businesses and interests he either ran or assisted with in Downs and surrounding communities. This included Down’s Oil & Gas, Smith Center Gas, and Osborne Gas & Oil throughout the 1970s-80s and early 1990s. In addition to these operations, Dennis and Carolyn assisted with ownership duties of the Smith Center John Deere Company combined with Carolyn’s parents, Milton & Nona Ouderkirk. Dennis also served as the President of the Downs National Bank for most of the 1980s and multiple terms on the Downs Schools Board of Education.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, James and Esther VanderGiesen, and his wife Carolyn. Dennis is survived by his sons William (Denise) of Mulvane, Kansas; Tim (Annette) of Miami, Florida; and Jere (Elise), of Denver, Colorado. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Kyler, of Mulvane, Ainsley (Jeremy) of Olathe, Brooke (Collin) of Denver, and Harper of Miami. He is also survived by several cousins on both the VanderGiesen and Bowers-Easterly sides of the family.

A memorial service will be held on August 16th at 11:00 AM. at Smith Family Mortuary in 1415 N Rock Rd, Derby, KS 67037 followed by an extensive Celebration of Life. The Celebration of Life, including lunch, will be held immediately after the service at the Derby Public Library Community Room at1600 Walnut Grove Rd, Derby, Kansas, just a couple of minutes from Smith Mortuary. For the service and his Celebration of Life, and in honor of family wishes and Dennis’s interests, the family requests that everyone dress comfortably, and where possible, in fan gear of MLB teams Royals or Dodgers, collegiate schools such as Washburn, Fort Hays State, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, New Mexico State University, and lastly University of Miami, all of which were attended by he or Carolyn, their sons, or their grandchildren, some of whom attended multiples as he and Carolyn were proud that they, and all three of their children, have at least one advanced degree, and the grandchildren are either working towards or have plenty of time if they decide to later in life. .

While plants and flowers are appreciated, memorials are also welcomed and should be made out to League 42 of Wichita, the local branch of the National League 42 non-profit for youth baseball to help children of all ages and economic classes to learn, play and appreciate the sport of baseball.