Thomas Edward “Tommy” Denton was born on March 19, 1961 with a head of curly red hair. Tommy grew up and went to school in Ypsi, Ann Arbor, and Dexter. He took great pride in being good at everything – he could lift anything, fix anything, move anything, repair anything, play any sport – he could do anything and do it well. He even made the best green bean casserole at Thanksgiving every year and sang in a professional Opera in San Diego when he was 13. Tommy was also very good at eating anything anyone else didn’t want or didn’t like and he was always there if you needed help with something. He was a HUGE UM Wolverines and Detroit Lions fan and he was really into wolves.
Age 101, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at his home, with his family at his side. He was born December 6, 1921 in Forest City, Iowa , the son of Anton Ensign and Clara Nateva (Emmons) Rasmussen.
Robert served in the Army as a Corporal in the Philippines during WWII. He was an Aeronautical Engineer and later an automotive engineer. He worked for Boeing in Seattle, Washington, then for Chrysler Aerospace in New Orleans, Louisiana (on NASA's Saturn rocket project); and finally the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, retiring in 1991. He has lived in Chelsea since 1969. Robert was a member of the St. Paul United Church of Christ. He enjoyed traveling, particularly to San Francisco (where his son lived); and woodworking. Dad exercised 3 times a week on his Nordic track, which he bought when he retired at age 70. His favorite adage was “Bodies are made to move.” He also enjoyed classical music and played his trombone every day in retirement.