In Loving Memory of

Dennis William Shanfeldt

March 23, 1941 – December 23, 2024

Dennis Shanfeldt was born in Chicago, Illinois to the late Joseph Sr. and Alice Shanfeldt on March 23, 1941. Dennis gained his angel wings on Monday, December 23, 2024, peacefully, at home with family, at the age of 83.

Dennis grew up in Chicago. He met his late wife Marge and married in June of 1969; they celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary earlier this year. In the summer of 1970, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and in 1987 moved to Moriarty.

Dennis was very involved in his community. He served as a councilman for the City of Moriarty for 24 years (1990 – 2023 non-consecutively). Dennis had a passion for his community, trying to make it a better place to live for all his neighbors. He was a substitute teacher for Moriarty High School, from 1984 – 1985, lending a hand wherever he was needed. Dennis also tutored several of the students in Math and taught many to play chess.

Dennis and his late wife Marge built six homes in the Macintosh and Moriarty area, mostly on their own with a little help from friends here and there. He usually came up with his ideas and floorplans on a napkin or paper placemat while out having coffee. In their final and forever home, Dennis welded a 12-foot-tall – 20-foot-long dinosaur named Julie along with her baby named Chomper in the front yard. Julie loved to dress up for all the holidays and had her own following of admirers.

Dennis retired from Mountain Bell, as a Manager in the Computer Department.

Some of Dennis' hobbies when not building homes, were welding using acetylene gas as well as arc (using electricity), four wheeling and camping in his younger years, playing chess, reading good crime / mystery / detective books with his late wife Marge and eating lots of cookies.

Dennis was a devoted husband to his late wife Marge, a loving father to his daughter Patrice Barstow-Kelly, and a beloved grandfather (Papa) to his grandson Nicklaus Gauthier. He also had one nephew Robert (Rachel) Shanfeldt, and two great nephews Matthew (Kristie) Shanfeldt and Jeffery (Mary) Shanfeldt.  Dennis was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Shanfeldt, parents Joseph Sr. and Alice Shanfeldt, brother Lt. Joseph Jr. (Sara) Shanfeldt and his sister Elizabeth Shanfeldt.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Bethel Community Store House, PO Box 968, Moriarty, NM 87035 (The Bethel provides food and services to neighbors in need)

Services will be held at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 215 Girard Ave., Moriarty, NM 87035 on Thursday, January 02, 2025. The Rosary will be recited at 10:00 am. The mass of a Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am. There will be a meal immediately following in the Parrish Hall, by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Ladies Society.