Dennis E. Weitzel, Sr., 81, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, July, 13, 2025 at Lightways Hospice in Joliet.
There will be no public services held. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Dennis was born on June 5, 1944 in Ottawa, to William and Lorraine (Williamson) Weitzel. He was a graduate of Deer Park Grade School, Ottawa Township High School, and L.P.O. Junior College, where he earned degrees in Computer Technology and Electrical Engineering. He married Judith Coffey on August 15, 1964 at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Ottawa. He worked at Illinois Bell which later became AT&T. Dennis worked on the project that brought the first digital phone lines to Seneca, and his office was the first to use Fiber Optics for telephone communications. He was a board member of Rutland TWP Grade School, member of the IBEW Local 399 Unit #5, member and vice president of Trades and Labor Council of IL unit #8, over LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties, and a member and vice president of the C.O.P.E Organization of Illinois. Dennis headed a group to get the LaSalle County Highway 51 built between Ottawa and Marseilles. He also headed a group to get all the land for the Illinois Michigan Canal from LaSalle to Chicago titled to the State of Illinois for the State Canal Walk Path Park and County 51 Road. He retired in 1994, one week before his birthday. He was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was the head of the Men’s Fellowship, and a current member of Bethel Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his wife, Judy, three children, Dennis E. (Deborah) Weitzel, Jr., Richard E. (Anne) Weitzel, and Tamera A. (Charley) Bell; ten grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Aaron and Gerald Weitzel.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Bethel Lutheran Church.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com. Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433