Celebration of Life service for Dennis Dean Heerman will be 2:00 pm Saturday, November 1, 2025 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Naper, NE. Interment will follow in the Naper Lutheran Cemetery.
Dennis Dean Heermann was born in Burke, South Dakota on April 19, 1938. He was born to Alnard and Hilda Hermann (Ludemann). Dennis lived his early life on a farm by Jamison. His family then moved to a farm near Naper, Nebraska. Dennis walked to country school a half a mile from his family farm and then graduated from Naper High School in 1956. Dennis joined The Air Force and was stationed at Enewetak Atoll in the Pacific, where he served in the fire crash rescue. When he returned home, he worked for Stoltenburg construction out of Saint Paul. Soon, he met, dated, and married Lou Ann Stahlecker, even though her dad called him “that wild Heermann boy”. Dennis and Lou Ann were joined in marriage on December 2, 1961. To this union a son, Shane (1963) and a daughter, Heidi (1973) were born. Throughout their marriage Dennis and Lou Ann often moved for Dennis’ college studies at UNL for Civil Engineering and his many job opportunities. Residences included, Valentine, Lincoln, Norfolk, Rapid City, SD, Colorado and ending up in Valentine where Dennis owned Heermann Engineering for 18 years. Dennis ended his career working for the Nebraska Department of Roads in Grand Island, NE.
Dennis loved to hunt, ice fish, throw hawk, and participate in Mountain Man Rendezvous. Dennis was always ready for a game of cards – pitch, cribbage, hearts and basically any game where his victories brought out his infamous “rooster dance” of victory – well known among his family. As walking became harder for Dennis he started beading using Native American patterns and won many ribbons for his beautiful work at the Nebraska State Fair.
Dennis is survived by his son, Shane (Ann Ptacek) David City, NE daughter Heidi (Gary) Anderson, grandson Ethan (Sydney Aase) Heermann (Sioux City, IA), granddaughter Emily Heermann (David City, NE), brother Jerry (Dorothy) Heermann of Naper, NE. Brothers-in-law Winston Stahlecker of Amarillo, TX, Stan Stahlecker of O’Neill, NE and Rev. Greg (Gail) Stahlecker of Salt Lake City, UT and Dave Ahlman, of Norfolk, NE and many nephews and nieces all over the United States.
Dennis was preceded in death by his wife Lou Ann, mother and father (Alnard and Hilda Heermann), sisters Linda and Charlene, brother-in-law Harlan (Duke) Stahlecker and sisters-in-law Pam (Stanley), Kay (Winston), Karen (Winston) and Velda (Duke).
“On to Rendezvous” Condolences: www.bmlfh.com
