Dennis George Rosen

October 19, 1942 - July 8, 2023

 Dennis George Rosen, 80, beloved husband, father and papa, of Tucson, AZ passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday July 8, 2023.

Denny was born October 19, 1942 in Independence, MO, son of Martin and Irma (Groves) Rosen. Martin died of polio when Denny was 3 years old, and Irma remarried Lee Bauck, long-time friend of Martin and Irma’s. Lee and Irma moved to Minneapolis, MN to raise their young family, which included Denny and his two older brothers.

After graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1960, Denny attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a B.S. in Applied Mathematics. He then went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Iowa.

While attending the University of Minnesota, Denny met a young X-Ray Technician, Karen Westphal, of Wykoff, MN and fell in love. Denny and Karen married on June 7, 1967 in Wykoff with American composer, Paul Manz, as their organist. As a mathematician, Denny reveled in easily remembered dates, so he and Karen were engaged on 11/22/66 and married on 6/7/67.

After graduation Denny found employment at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY and it was there he and Karen raised their family. Denny is survived by his loving wife, Karen, and their four children: Jonathan (and Toni) of Dallas, TX; Frederick (and Tranixa) of Stafford Springs, CT; Thomas (and Christine) of Greenfield, WI; and Gretchen (and Jason) Franti, of Rixeyville, VA; two brothers: James (Las Cruces, NM) and Dale (White Plains, NY); and his seven wonderful grandchildren: Ayla, Nathaniel, Jeremiah, Julia, Jonas, Ewen, and Felix. He was truly blessed and loved being a Papa to his grandkids. Denny brought his family up in the Christian faith and left them with the knowledge and hope that, through Christ, they will see him again one day.

Denny was a Production Planner for Kodak for the majority of his career. He and his family were active members of Hope Lutheran Church, where they made good friends who were like family to them, and who became affectionately known as the “The Turkey Twelve” in honor of their yearly Thanksgiving gatherings. The Rosen family was also active in scouting and camping. They went on numerous family trips, including a six-week cross-country trek in their pop-up camper in 1986, which has provided the family with many great stories, memories and laughs over the years. Denny had many hobbies including water sports, hiking, golfing, creating with stained glass, crafting, and wood working.

When Denny retired, he and Karen moved to Perham, MN, to live in the house where he spent his summers as a boy, and where his family vacationed every year, on Little Pine Lake. As they found themselves less enthralled with the harsh Minnesota weather, they began to spend their winters as snowbirds in Tucson, AZ. Amazingly, Denny trained for, and ran, his first marathon at age 65. Then, in 2015, he and his sons and son-in-law hiked the Grand Canyon from rim-to-rim. Denny and Karen eventually chose year-round living in Tucson, AZ where Denny served in his church as organist and president of the congregation.

Memorial donations may be made to:

              Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

              5975 W Western Way Circle

              Tucson, AZ 85713

              Website: holytrinitytucson.org

              E-mail: holytrinitytucson@gmail.com

              Phone: (502) 245-4888

Or, as you please, make a donation to a charity of your choice in his honor.