Springer

Dennis James Springer, 86, of Zelienople and New Brighton, passed away on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, while under the care of St. John Specialty Care.

Born Nov. 6, 1935, in Sewickley, he was the son of the late James and Irene Schaffer Springer. He grew up in Zelienople and became an avid horseman at an early age. He loved being around horses, and it became a lifelong hobby.

He attended Zelienople High School, where he played football and was on the track team. Eventually he decided to attend Pennsylvania Military College in Chester, Pa., where he graduated in 1954. There, he was on the football team, and he began to box. He made lifelong friends from his experience there.

After graduation, he attended Penn State University. Because of his interest in animals and horses, he wanted to study to be a vet. While at Penn State, he boxed and was undefeated in his weight class. After two years at Penn State, he decided to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He trained as a .30 caliber machine gunner at Parris Island, S.C., and was on active duty during the Israeli-Egyptian conflict from 1956 to 1957. He was assigned as part of an United Nations effort to stabilize the area and evacuate American allies from the region. He always commented about his Mediterranean cruise with the Sixth Fleet. While there, he toured parts of Italy and other European countries. While in the Marine Corps, he continued to box as a fly weight boxer and was undefeated in his company.

After the Marine Corps, he smartly married his longtime girlfriend, Janie Bender Springer. They were married for the rest of his life for 64 years. During that time, he founded Industrial Machine Incorporated and made a successful business by servicing some of the largest steel producing companies in the country. He also worked for Ellwood City Forge, and later, Keystone Honing.

He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and he continued his love of horses as a competitive calf roper, competing in his 40s and 50s in both calf roping and team roping events, and winning many ribbons and championship belt buckles for his efforts. He and several of his closest friends formed the notorious Red Horse Gang as a group of horse enthusiasts. He took many hunting trips around the country and Canada, hunting deer, elk, antelope and black bear, and he was very proud of the grizzly bear that he had gotten in Alaska. He and Janie took many trips to Mexico, Cuba, Spain, Canada and Florida, among other destinations. The family fondly remembers all their trips to Colorado to ski and their fishing trips to the Waltonian Inn in Canada.

He was incredibly charming, funny and a great friend of everyone who knew him. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor, and fun, practical jokes. Above all, he loved being with his family and was a wonderful parent, grandparent and great-grandparent. He will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.

Dennis leaves behind to cherish his memory his loving wife of 64 years, Janie Springer, whom he married on Sept. 6, 1958; his children, DJ Springer II and Eric (Denise) Springer; his grandchildren, Shannon (Phil) Marchetti, Dennis “Jimmy” III (Sofia Salinas), Heather (Sam) Schurer, Dillion Springer, Ryan Springer, Zack Springer (Taylor Van Helmond), Stephanie Springer and Matt Springer; and his great-grandchildren, Theodore Marchetti and Malcome Marchetti.

In addition to his parents, Dennis was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara “Bobbi” Gerwig.

SPRINGER — Friends of Dennis James Springer, who died Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 415 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, with the Rev. A. David Paul officiating.

Friends are welcome to rejoin the family following the service at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at North Park Lounge, 20810 US-Route 19, Cranberry Township.

Dennis will be laid to rest at the Zelienople Community Mausoleum in a private ceremony.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.