Dennis R. Atkinson, 66, of Shelbyville, died at 12:15 a.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011 in his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 11, 2011 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville with Rev. Bob Turner officiating. Flag presentation will be by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Visitation from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday. Memorials may be given to his family. Cremation will follow services.

Mr. Atkinson was born on April 5, 1945 in Shelbyville, IL, the son of Jack and Irma E. Phelps Atkinson. He graduated from Findlay High School in the Class of 1963 and Southern Illinois University. Dennis was a U. S. Air Force veteran and served as administrator of the hospital at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. He returned home to farm and later retired from International Paper in Shelbyville. Dennis was affiliated with the First Church of the Nazarene in Shelbyville and a member of VFW Post # 4829 in Shelbyville. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his grandchildren and was a huge University of Illinois fan. He married Judy C. Lape in 1978.

Surviving are his wife, Judy; son, Zac Atkinson of Shelbyville;; daughter, Neka Karcher and husband Bob of Shelbyville; mother, Irma Atkinson of Shelbyville; sisters, Becky Leverenz and husband Jim of Port Richey, FL, Pam Donnel and husband Gary of Shelbyville and Debbie Kyle and husband Steve of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Brennon Atkinson, Kyla Brown and Kristopher Karcher; and great grandson, Chayton Karcher.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Atkinson.

Condolences may be sent at www.howeandyockey.com