Dennis John Spisak of Wildwood, Missouri, died on June 29, 2019, at the age of 71 at home with his wife and daughter at his side.
Dennis (better known as Denny, Spish, or Poppy) was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on June 5, 1948. He graduated high school from Bishop McCort Catholic High School. He went on to college and earned a BS and Masters of Education from Shippensburg University. Education was the focal part of his working life. He taught for nine years in public education in the state of Pennsylvania. His teaching experience covered all levels of education including: middle school, high school, refugees from Viet Nam, and community college. He was always interested in current events in education and wrote several published articles on the subject.
Denny changed his career in education by joining McGraw-Hill Publishing Company and focused on career education throughout his career of 30 years with the company. He held various positions during his 30 years and ended his career as Vice President of Sales for the Career College Division of Higher Education. Denny loved his work in education and the people he met throughout his career.
Dennis was predeceased by his mother Eileen Spisak and Aunt Margaret Kane and Uncle Lawrence Kane, whom he had close relationships with. He leaves behind: his wife of 47 years, Mary Lynn Spisak; daughter Andrea Wilcox Valenta; granddaughters Addison Wilcox Sturm and Isabella Grace Valenta; sisters Eileen Poznanski and her family, Rose Ann Peterson and her family and Audrey Custer and her family.