Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From a young age, Bill (Wilfred) assisted with family support. Completing only eight grades of education, Bill worked on farms around Swartz Creek with his dad. The work was hard and the pay poor. One account relates that Bill dreamed of the
day when he would have enough money to own enough pairs of socks so he wouldn't have to wear the same "crusty" pair day after day.



Between farm jobs, Bill and his dad built their family's house which was located east of Linden road on the South side of Miller Road.



Later, Bill worked in a Flint Foundry and finally was able to be indentured into the Electrical Workers Apprentice program during the 1930's. This formed the basis for a career first as an electrician and finally as the founder of Universal
Electric Company (now Universal Systems) in 1956 at Flint, Michigan.



During WWII, Bill worked as a electrical construction superintendent on several green field military production plants. These included a rubber (tires) plant in Akron, Ohio, a tank plant in Grand Blanc, Michigan and other military production
plants in Lansing and Grand Rapids.



His strong work ethic continued to the end. He suffered a stroke while working at his business on Sunday. He died several days later.



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From Funeral Bulletin:

Brown Funeral Home, Flint



Rev. Perry Thomas, Officiating



More About Wilfred Dennis:

Occupation: Electrician, founder of Universal Electric Co. (now Universal Systems).

Buried: Smith Hills Cemetery, Otisville, Michigan

Cause of Death: Cerebral Vascular Hemorrhage due to essential hypertension

Wilfred married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George N. Dennis was born in Canada, immigrated to the USA in 1898, and was naturalizes as a US citizen on June 27, 1934 in Genesee County, Michigan. From the 1920 census, George declared his father and mother were born in Canada of Dutch
decent. George in the 1920 census declared his trade to be carpenter and was employed by the Ice Co. They lived at 2022 Church Street, Flint.



Francis suffered with Tuberculosis and was interned at a sanitarium near Howell, Michigan. On weekends, George would ride his bicycle from home (near Linden and Miller Road) to visit Francis (a distance of about 35 miles each way on gravel
roads.) While Francis was at Howell, their two daughters stayed with neighbors and Wilfred remained at home with his dad.



George is buried in Section O, lot E1/2 34, graves 3 and 4, of Sunset Hills Cemetary, near Flint Michigan.



In 1957, at the time of George's death, his brother William lived in Newbury, Ontario.



A family Bible indicates George was born in 1883. His death certificate indicates 1882.

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From the funeral service bulletin:

Reigle Funeral home, Colonial Chapel:

Rev. George L. Fish Officiating



Pallbearers: Willard Kilbreath, Howard Kilbreath, Robert Johnston, Bruce Laird, Elmer Dennis, Walter Young.

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Cause of Death: Coronary Thrombosis

Medical Information: Blue eyes, Gray hair at age 50. Medium complection.

George married Frances Rose Ruhnau on 18 May 1909 in Garfield Township, Bay County, Michigan. Frances (daughter of Joseph Ruhnau and Henrietta Elizabeth Kattie) was born on 30 Nov 1892 in Detroit, Michigan; died on 27 Dec 1948 in Flint, Michigan; was buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Flint, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her Birth Certificate lists her name as Franciska Ruhnau and was issued in Detroit. According to the 1910 census, she had been married less then 1 year (on census day 4/22/1910), was 17 years old, had 2 born children (presumable twins, Clara
and Clarence), with Clara age 6 months alive and living with them. Clara must have died prior to the 1920 census. According to the 1920 census, Frances' parents were both born in Germany.



Francis had a falling out with her parents, presumably about her marriage to George. They never spoke to one another the rest of there lives.



Francis suffered from tuberculosis and was interned at a sanitarium near Howell, Michigan . Years later, the TB spread to her kidney which was surgically removed.



Cause of Death: Cerebral Hemorrhage

Roy married Helen Mary Brandt on 18 Nov 1908. Helen was born on 19 Aug 1887; died on 29 Dec 1954 in Forest Twnsp, Genesee County, Michigan; was buried in Smith Hills Cemetery, Otisville, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]