Dennis Stopher
Dennis Stopher, of Franklin, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026, with his loving wife of 44 years, Cathy, by his side. He was born on March 27, 1955, the eldest son of Glenn and Dolores Stopher. He grew up in the Greenfield area with five brothers and graduated from Whitnall High School, class of 1973.
Dennis began his working life as a mechanic at his father's gas stations at age 15, a start that suited him. That hands-on foundation carried him through a career as a car mechanic, vehicle services manager at Monroe Truck Equipment, Inc., and ultimately as Director of Safety and Compliance at Daily Direct, a motorcycle transportation company.
He was a devoted husband and father who loved his family fiercely and showed it in his own particular ways. He was a quiet man with a dry wit, and his opinions, when offered, were honest and pointed. He cooked "good food" for the people he loved, usually on the grill, and dinner was reliably late because, as he would explain with complete sincerity, the meat just took a little longer. He had strong views about how an ice tray should be filled, how a car should be backed into a driveway, and when his daughters began driving, he settled the question permanently by spray-painting guide lines on the driveway. He was, by all accounts, not wrong.
He found joy in the small and quiet things: photography, particularly flowers and nature, long walks, books and newspapers, music, and a stiff brandy and Coke. He loved 70s rock and The Eagles above all. And he never said "I love you" quite the way anyone else did. His version was "love too" — brief, his own, and entirely sincere.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife Cathy (nee Novotny); daughters Tricia Jemhart, Andrea Peters (Ryan), and Jessica Klug (Chris); father-in-law Fritz Lueneburg; grandchildren Alivia, Jarrett, Madalyn, Mackenzy, Jaimyn, Emma, Matthew, Carson, Hunter, and Colton; and brothers Scott (Lori), Randy (David), Todd (Stephanie), and Mike. He is preceded in death by his mother Dolores, father Glenn, brother Jeff, mother-in-law Joan Johnson Novotny Lueneburg, and father-in-law Norbert Novotny.
Friends and family may call at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Hartson Funeral Home, 1111 West Janesville Road, Hales Corners, WI 53130. A memorial service will begin at 11:30 AM. Memorial messages may be left at hartsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries.