Dennis Garrels

Reverend Dennis Earl Garrels, 82, of St. Louis, MO, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 23rd, 2025, after living with Parkinson's disease for twenty years.

He was born August 27th, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, to Earl and Milda (Diefenbach) Garrels. Dennis ("Denny") graduated from Walled Lake High School in Westacres, Michigan in 1960. He attended University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and earned a bachelor's degree in music in 1966. Denny then attended seminary at Concordia, at both the Springfield, Illinois campus, then the Fort Wayne, Indiana campus, and received his master's in divinity in 1978.

He married Dale Patricia Wooliver in 1966, and they followed pastoral calls to Springfield, Illinois, Hicksville, New York, Detroit, Michigan, and Fort Madison, Iowa, before settling in St. Louis, Missouri in 1982, where he served as pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, LCMS. Denny remained in St. Louis until 2004. He moved to Los Angeles, California, where he served as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, retiring in 2015. He moved back to St. Louis in 2019.

Denny was an incredible musician and entertainer. He played the trombone in numerous bands - from the Les Elgart Orchestra in early adulthood, the University of Michigan Marching Band in college (including a 4-month tour of South America in 1965!), The RKO Radio Hot Jazz Dixieland Band in the 80s, to Souled Out Motown Band in the 90s and early 2000s. He also played the pipe organ in various churches, and was an accomplished pianist. Denny was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and can be seen in the background of numerous Hollywood films. He also enjoyed acting in local theater productions, and rarely missed an open mic night at Mangia Italiano in the late 80s and early 90s.

Denny is survived by his daughter Robyn (Jaryd) Wolfsberger of St. Louis, as well as four grandchildren: Fynn, Ulysses ("Sully"), Yeats, and Joyce. He is also survived by his brother Bob Garrels of Big Rapids, Michigan, brother Mike (Marti) Garrels of South Bend, Indiana, and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides parents, Denny was preceded in death by his loving wife of 32 years, Dale (Wooliver) Garrels, as well as his sister, Judy Garrels.

His memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 26th, 2025 at 1:30pm at Gethsemane Lutheran Church (ELCA), 3600 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, MO 63109. Pastor Cheryl Walenta-Gorvie officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Evertrue Laclede Groves - Lutheran Senior Services, where Denny received exquisite Parkinson's care for the last years of his wonderful life. 723 South Laclede Station Rd., St. Louis, MO 63119.