Dennis Wayne Stomberg

Dennis Wayne Stomberg, age 60, of Rockford, beloved husband and best friend of Gaylene for forty years, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by the ones he laughed with, lived for, and loved on Tuesday, December 24, 2013. He was born in Oregon, IL, the son of Donald and Dona (Florschuetz) Stomberg and was raised and lived most of his life in Franklin Grove. He always said he made the best decision of his life on September 13, 1975 when he said "I Do" and was wed to Gaylene Briggs. She blessed him with three children who grew into successful, compassionate, loving adults he was extremely proud of: Kristi (Nathan Keller) Stomberg, Katie (Ken) Hauck, and Lucas (Elizabeth) Stomberg. His life was filled with a variety of adventures . . . in the early years they revolved around the many homes he built or restored, providing a wonderful setting for his most important undertaking which was raising children. It also included a period of owning and operating Guys & Gals Billiards in Dixon, which gave him the gift of his life-long best friend Mark Wagner. As the children grew Dennis gained a passion for antiques which led to the startup of the Roscoe Antique Mall. This offered the perfect opportunity to earn a living and do something he loved. Over the years the Roscoe Antique Mall has become a place where people come together to enjoy a hobby, socialize with others who share their interest, and maybe even to make a little money in the process. Many of these people started out as customers or dealers but over fifteen years Dennis came to consider them some of his very best friends. Auctions and "the hunt" became more pleasure than business and he would travel across the Midwest often coming home with a trailer full of treasures. There were also some wonderful road trips throughout the USA with Gaylene as well as on his Harley with his brother Steve. However his favorite times were the vacations and celebrations with the people he loved most, his family . . . creating volumes of wonderful memories. Dennis was a loving husband, a wonderful father and grandfather, and a true friend to many. He showed compassion and a desire to help others in all he did. He is survived by his wife and children as well as four grandchildren: Jake, Sam, Kara, and Joey, three step-grandchildren: Allen, Amy, and Josh, and one step-great-granddaughter: Lil-lee. He is also survived by his mother Dona Stomberg, brothers Steve (Artina) Stomberg and Greg (Misty) Stomberg, and sister Debra (Curt) Bartlett. He was preceded in death by his father and brothers Kirby and Donnie. A memorial service will be held to honor and celebrate the life of Dennis at 2:00pm on Sunday, January 5, 2014 at The Brandywine in Dixon with a luncheon following. There will also be a gathering to celebrate his life on Thursday, January 9, 2014 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Roscoe Antique Mall in South Beloit. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for The American Cancer Society.

Dennis Wayne Stomberg

July 11, 1953 - December 24, 2013