Dennis Charles Hermanson was born to Warren “Hermie” and Delores (nee Murno) Hermanson in Belleville, IL on April 10, 1959. The Hermansons eventually had five children, Dennis smack dab in the center. He was a textbook middle child: a pair of older and younger brothers and sisters to book end his place in the family. Go-along to get-along, type B, affable, peacemaker.

Dennis grew up in Lebanon, IL where he was active in boy scouts and sports. He was outside from sunup to sundown. The only break he took from being outdoors was stopping at the library. He cherished the quiet hum of the room, the perfect air conditioning, and the peace of being alone with a book for an hour or two. He found his first love, baseball, very early. Dennis swore he clearly remembered Stan Musial’s last game with the Cardinals. Being only 4 years old when Stan The Man took his last swing, it’s a claim often met with a raised eyebrow from his family. Whatever the truth, Dennis loved baseball for its slow pace, its decades long history, its built in romance and legendary tall tales, all attributes that applied to Dennis himself.

After graduating Lebanon High School in 1977, Dennis enrolled at Millikin University in Decatur and joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. The TKEs introduced him to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, their pet project. For the rest of his life, Dennis supported St. Jude, deeply moved by their mission to end childhood cancer.

On July 4, 1978, Dennis went on a first date that changed everything. He fell helplessly and completely in love with Tracy Ann Warren. As far as he was concerned, there were two people on Earth: Tracy and everyone else.

Dennis left Millikin after two years, finding it hard to adjust to college life. He had initially planned to major in business and perhaps play on the baseball team. He chose a different adventure, one that didn’t include athletic excellence, fame and fortune, being a titan of industry. Instead, he sought a life centered around family and friends, his beloved music and books, cooking a mean meatloaf, quiet nights spent with his nearest and dearest.

The young couple married on Dec 12, 1981, six months after welcoming first daughter, Morgan. Dennis enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the 101st Airborne after completing air assault school at Fort Benning. The ragtag Three Musketeers soon headed west to Hawaii and second daughter Sunny came along in 1985.

After his service ended, a string of unfulfilling jobs followed. In 1995, Dennis had his “aha moment”. He realized his true calling. He thought he’d make an excellent history teacher. A chance elective Special Education course brought all the pieces together. Something clicked. He saw parts of himself in the students he envisioned teaching and leading. A bright but marginal student in his past, Dennis excelled the second time around.

He took a job delivering newspapers overnight, a chore he did literally every day for seven years, rain or shine. It was a grind. He would work from 2-7 AM, sometimes take a quick nap, go to school until the early afternoon, come home, watch the daily Jeopardy! broadcast, take another nap, cook dinner, complete any outstanding coursework, another nap until midnight. Rinse and repeat. He managed to be present for his family, showing up to parent teacher conferences, attending band concerts, softball games and track meets. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2002, took a very long, well deserved nap, and never rolled another newspaper.

After a few years of teaching at Madison and Livingston, Dennis landed his dream job at Wesclin High School in Trenton where he taught Special Education until his retirement in 2021. Mr. Hermanson’s classroom was a safe space for the students he guided for nearly 20 years. He built a community of which he was fiercely protective and proud. He also took on the role of girl’s assistant softball coach, serving alongside his childhood best friend. More important than the score on the board, he relished watching timid kids blossom into fearless young adults.

Dennis adored and openly loved his family. He was thrilled to be surrounded by hardheaded women, never asking his wife, daughters, or granddaughter to make themselves small. Tracy, Morgan, Sunny, and Scarlett were his world, and he was thrilled to be along for the ride, always preferring to let them steer their own ships. He was a girl dad before it was cool. He encouraged them to be exactly who they were, to speak their minds, to sing as loud as they wanted, to take up space.

Tenderhearted and sentimental to a fault, Dennis was gentle in all the right spots. He was kind and soft-spoken. He moved with the deliberate slowness of a man truly content with his life. He was never embarrassed to share his tears, be they brought on by sadness, pure joy, an incredible movie, poem, or even comic strip. He had a lightning quick sense of humor and always had the perfect song to convey any emotion. He wrote the best, most earnest cards, whether containing one line or 20. Dennis never took himself too seriously. A fan of a well-intended teasing, and he received even better than he gave. He was a master at trivia, cards, wooden puzzles, crosswords, sudoku. Name a game, he could play and always win.

Dennis suffered a fatal heart attack on July 25, 2026 and passed away at his home in New Baden, just 67 days after losing his beloved Tracy to cancer. His death was sudden and shocking, but his dying doesn’t define his life. His vulnerability, his easy good nature, his quick forgiveness, his wide-open heart were all key ingredients to making a sincerely remarkable man. Dennis will be remembered as an exemplary husband, father, Pop, son, brother, uncle, teacher, coach and friend.

Please join us for a memorial at the Wildey Theater, 252 North Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025, Sunday September 20, 2026 at 2 PM. Small bites and soft drinks provided. Let’s toast our friend one last time.

Dennis is preceded in death by:

Wife of 44 years, Tracy Hermanson Father Warren “Hermie” Hermanson Brother Steve Hermanson Sister-in-law Gail Wiemann

Survived by:

Daughter Morgan Hermanson (Justin Mattea) Daughter Sunny (Gabe) Weitkemper Granddaughter Scarlett Mattea Mother Delores Hermanson Sister Jennie Hermanson Sister Nancy Hermanson Brother Don Hermanson Brothers-in-law Gordon Warren, Glen Warren, Dan Wiemann Nieces and Nephews: Alex (Kalee) Hermanson, Gregory (Emily) Hermanson, Rose (Ryan) Deterding, Lacey (Ryan) Woodrome, Bryley Warren, Seth Warren, Brianna Warren, great nieces and nephews, dozens of cousins, colleagues and dear friends