William Dennis Swartz
William Dennis (Denny) Swartz, 78, of Bellevue, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital surrounded by his family. Denny was born on August 23, 1947, to Melvin Roy (Bill) Swartz and Charlotte Ann Swartz (Love) in Battle Creek.
Denny was a giving, caring, and proud husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-uncle, great grandfather and friend to many. He’d help anyone, anytime, anywhere with anything and everything he could. He loved when his kids, sons-in-law, or grandkids called him or stopped by just to chat or asked him to teach them how to do something, which he was amazing at. Growing up, Denny loved spending time on the farm with his uncles, playing sports, and being outside. As a teenager, he not only went to school, but worked many hours at the American Legion Club House where his mother and sister also worked.
He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1966. Shortly after graduation, Denny was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he served as a Sargent E5 filling an E6 Staff Sargent position in the United States Army. On August 2, 1969, he married the first love of his life, Kathleen (Kathy) Ruth Trott in North Ridgeville, Ohio. For the next 25 and half years, they made a home and had two daughters. While his daughters were growing up, he was often seen coaching one or both of them in softball or at a sporting event cheering on his hometown. He was employed at a full service Marathon gas station for a short time before being hired into Fisher Body (GM) in Lansing.
Denny was a Mason for over 50 years and a lifetime member. He began his time as a Mason at the Climax Lodge. He was proud to be a Mason and held many seats in several lodges over the years, including Past Master of the Kalamo Lodge. He also often attended Lodge in Dayton, Tennessee, when visiting friends.
Once he retired after 31 years from GM, he spent a lot of time fishing, visiting friends in Tennessee, and picked up a part-time job driving truck for Gould’s Trucking in Olivet for several years.
Denny was lucky enough to find the second love of his life, Joyce Bernheisel, and they were married on May 14, 2005. Joyce had two grown children that Denny embraced as his own. Together they shared four kids, four granddaughters, and two great granddaughters. In later years, he was the biggest fan in the crowd and a proud Papa as he watched at least one, if not two or three playing or performing at the same time. He and Joyce spent many years taking care of each of them before they reached school age. Papa and Grandma were often seen at softball, volleyball and soccer games, dance recitals and band concerts.
Denny was preceded in death by his father, mother, first wife, and sister. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughters Shannon (Tony) Bass and Michelle (Doug) Pennington, both of Bellevue, step-daughter Anne (John) Swanson of Portland, Oregon, step-son Chris Pillars of Vicksburg, sisters Marjorie Coy of Bellevue, Pat Dowding (Mary) of Battle Creek, brother-in-law Jim Treat of Bellevue, grandchildren, MaKenna Pillars and Kyle Colwell, Kayden and Karley Bass and Willow Pennington, great-granddaughters, Loreli and Mallori Colwell and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be a visitation on February 12, 4 to 7 p.m. at Rhe North End, 232 N. Main St., Bellevue.
A Military and Masonic grave side service will be held on April 24, 2026 ,at Fort Custer National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Masonic Home in Alma, 1200 Wright Ave. Alma, MI 48801.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook, and to share memories and pictures with the family.