Dennis Edward DeSmet

Dennis was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Raymond and Genevieve, and lived a life defined by technical intelligence, curiosity, and a relentless desire to understand—and improve—how things worked.

From an early age, Dennis excelled in math, chemistry, and engineering. He attended Austin Catholic Preparatory School, an all-boys Catholic high school, from 1957 to 1960, where he built the analytical foundation that would shape his future. He later earned certification in electronics at RETS in Detroit, beginning a long and accomplished professional career. Dennis spent more than forty years at Blue Cross Blue Shield, where his dedication and technical expertise led him to rise to the position of Software Division Manager.

Dennis made his home in St. Clair Shores, where he spent most of his adult life. Somewhat eccentric in the best sense, his real heart beat inside pistons and gears. He had a lifelong passion for improving engine performance through turbocharging, supercharging, and nitrous systems. In racing and horsepower circles, he was widely known as “Turbo Dennis,” a nickname that captured both his technical mastery and distinctive personality. His skill and innovation earned him Champion, Unlimited Class, Daytona Beach Brute Horsepower Shootout, four years in a row from 1990 to 1993.

Beyond engines and software, Dennis enjoyed golf and was an avid—and very skilled—Pinochle player. He was well liked by those who knew him and remembered for his dry, slightly offbeat sense of humor and an endless supply of classic dad jokes. He had a quiet way of delivering humor that often caught people by surprise, leaving a lasting impression.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Genevieve. He is survived by his siblings: Raymond, Edward, Anne, and Marie.

He is also survived by his children, Daniel, William, and Lauren, along with their mother and former wife, Kathleen Moran–DeSmet. He was a grandfather to Lauren, Kyle, Amanda, and Shane, and a great-grandfather to Sage, James, Brooks, and Blair.

Dennis will be remembered as a lifelong tinkerer, a man comfortable being unconventional, and someone whose intellect, originality, and humor left a lasting mark on everyone who knew him.

In honor of Dennis, and in the spirit of Jesus Christ, going forward we are called to take purposeful and regular intentional time with our children, siblings, and loved ones. We are called to open our hearts—to be more communicative, vulnerable, and honest—and to invest deeply in meaningful relationships. These relationships require love, patience, grace, and understanding, along with the willingness to truly listen and be present. May Dennis’s life remind us that our time together is precious, and that the most meaningful way to honor him is to cultivate connection, compassion, and love within our families and friendships, each and every day.

A Memorial Service will take place on February 17, 2026 at St. Lucy's Church beginning at 11AM.