Dennis D. Kiermas

Dennis D. Kiermas, age 80 of the Cloverleaf Lakes in the Town of Belle Plaine, Shawano County passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at the ThedaCare Medical Center in Shawano.

Dennis Dean Kiermas was born on December 27, 1944 as the son of the late Arthur "Art" and Edna (Olsen) Kiermas. He graduated from Clintonville High School and worked for the City of Clintonville for his entire working career. He attended St. Martin Lutheran Church for a time and was united in marriage to Deborah Valenti in 2011 on the couples farm in the Town of Larrabee just outside of Clintonville. 

In retirement the couple moved to his families long time home at the Cloverleaf Lakes. He loved taking friends and family for pontoon rides around the lakes and especially enjoyed being around Debbie and his grandchildren.

Dennis’s passion for the TV show Gunsmoke was the stuff of family legend. Most days, you’d find him settled in his recliner, playing solitaire on his iPad and  recounting the characters and plot twists of that day’s episode. The only interruption came at 9 p.m., when Family Feud claimed the screen.

He could seem quiet or gruff at first, but once he opened up, a warm twinkle lit his eyes and an easy smile followed. Dennis has a mischievous sense of humor and had a way of looking that said you were part of an inside joke that only you and him were in on.

Dennis was an avid hunter and fisherman, Dennis knew every animal that crossed the yard or skimmed the lake overnight and loved sharing those stories.  Worried that he might miss a sighting, he kept close vigil on the cameras setup around the property to look for deer, geese, squirrels and bears.

In his younger years, he was a championship ski jumper and a fierce competitor in trap shooting. He loved his cars, especially his Corvettes, and would be happy to tell you all about his first one. As his neighbors fondly remembered, “Dennis was the guy who, no matter what you were working on, had exactly the right tool—and was always happy to lend it.”

Dennis and Debbie passed within weeks of each other, unwilling to let the other arrive anywhere first or, true to form, have the last word.

The family would also like to extended our love and gratitude to Holly and all the extraordinary caregivers who helped make Dennis comfortable including his nurses, home health aides, and the meals on wheels volunteers.

Dennis is survived by: 

His Children: John (Janet) Carnell, Jason (Linda) Carnell, Mary (Zak) Valenti-Walby, Judi and Jeff Pflughoeft, Tom (Holly Beringer) Wearing

Grandchildren: Christopher, Agatha, Jack, Kina, Lexi, Nate, Scarlett, Robin, Andrea, Danny, Ryan and Jaxon, As well as other relatives and friends.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Art and Edna Kiermas, his wife Debbie, and a brother Larry Kiermas.

A private graveside service will be held for Dennis at Graceland Cemetery in Clintonville with Rev. Jason Zobel officiating. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting his family.