After graduating from Dodge High School, Dennis enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18, serving from 1956 to 1958. Following basic training in Arkansas, he was stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and later served a year and a half in Germany. When his service concluded, the Army delivered him from Germany to New York City - where he was discharged and began his next chapter in life.
Dennis eventually began working at the Farmers Union Co-op in Snyder, Nebraska. On July 8, 1961, he married the love of his life, Mary Jean ''Jeanne'' Tingelhoff, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in West Point. Dennis and Jeanne were devoted partners in marriage and in business; as Dennis fondly said, ''She had more guts than I did'' when it came to pursuing their many ventures together.
In the spring of 1970, Dennis and Jeanne borrowed money from their parents and joined a group of investors to purchase Scribner Grain & Lumber. For over 40 years, Dennis enjoyed working alongside his son, Mike Baumert, growing the elevator's operations and expanding its grain storage and services.
While Scribner was home for raising their family and running the business, Holt County, Nebraska became their "home away from home." Beginning in the late 1980s, Dennis together with his son-in-law, Mike Kelly, began expanding what started as delivering fertilizer and chemicals to a couple of quarters in the O'Neill and Atkinson area. Within a few years, their farming aspirations expanded this endeavor and led to Dennis and Jeanne finding themselves in O'Neill on a regular basis, especially during the planting and harvesting season. Dennis was proud of all of his grandchildren, he would collectively refer to them by saying, "There isn't a foul ball in the bunch." Dennis took great pride in seeing grandsons continue the family legacy through both the Scribner and Holt County operations - he deeply loved working with them.
A strong believer in community service, Dennis served as Mayor of Scribner from July 1984 through December 2006. He also served as a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church's Finance Committee, the Scribner Volunteer Fire Department, and the American Legion. He was passionate about investing in his local community and supporting the people who made it home.
Dennis and Jeanne continued working side by side until Jeanne was unexpectedly called Home in 2017.
Dennis is survived by his children Deb (Mike) Kelly of O'Neill, Mike (Lori) Baumert of Scribner, Susie (Don ''Diesel'') Dostal of Scribner, Karen (Mark) Carson of Elkhorn, and Sharon (Rick) Gish of Elkhorn; 17 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; one sister, Jeanine Weiler of Omaha; one brother, Dave (Linda) Baumert of North Bend, NE; and one sister-in-law, Lois (Gary) Kinney of West Point, NE.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Jean ''Jeanne'' (Tingelhoff) Baumert; brother Vernon Baumert; brothers-in-law Jim Weiler and Gary Kinney; and two great-granddaughters, Emersyn Kelly and Gracie Dostal.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Scribner. Reverend Walter Nolte will officiate. Military Honors and Fireman's last call will take place immediately following the Mass at church. Visitation with the family will be Friday, May 1, from 4 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., also at the church.
Due to Dennis' generosity as a pancreatic research tissue donor, private burial will take place at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to St. Lawrence Catholic Church or the Team Jack Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer.
Ludvigsen's Scribner Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
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