Dennis J. Niemela, age 71 of Coon Rapids, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at home.

Dennis was born on March 29, 1947 in Menahga, MN to Aldrich and Dorothy (Sjogren) Niemela.  After graduating from Menahga High School, he went to business college in Fargo, ND and then moved to Minneapolis, MN where he was a public accountant with Fuller Brush.  Due to the stressful nature of accounting, Dennis enrolled in the Control Data Institute where he studied computer operations, a profession in which he worked until his retirement.  Dennis met a beautiful lady named Donna at the Silver Dollar Club; he worked persistently to get a date with her until she finally said yes and eventually became his beloved wife.  Dennis was an avid MN Vikings fan and he had an interest in Elvis Presley.  He enjoyed vacations, eating good food, and escaping the Minnesota winters to his home in Arizona.

In addition to his parents, Dennis was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry.  He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Donna; children, Dave, Daniel (Diane), and Debra (Joe Johnson); grandchildren, Dylan, Cassandra, Nick, Matt, Nate, Mikaylah, Emma, Lucy, Hannah, and Ethan; great-grandchildren, Avah, Theo, and Kasen; brother, Gordon (Judy); also many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the Church of St. Timothy, 707 89th Avenue NE, Blaine.  Visitation one hour prior to Mass at church (10:00 - 11:00 a.m.)  Interment Forest Hill Cemetery, Anoka.

Arrangements entrusted to Thurston-DeShaw Funeral Home of Andover (763) 767-7373