Gary Lee Dennison died on June 3, 2026, at the age of 64 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He was born to Jerry Dennison and Peggy (Alsup) Dennison in St. Louis, Missouri on March 6, 1962. He grew up in Kirkland, Missouri, graduated from Kirkland Senior High School, and studied music education at Fontbonne College in Missouri.

Gary often recounted his fascination as a small boy watching the church organist on the keyboard, manipulating the stops, and walking up and down the pedals. His parents started him on organ lessons at a young age. By the time he was 13, Gary was earning spending money playing the organ in a church. He continued serving as a beloved church musician in Catholic and Lutheran churches for more than 50 years. At 19, Gary met Pam Boyd in St. Louis. They became lifelong friends, often serving together in the music programs of many churches.

In the late 1990s, after moving to Milwaukee, Gary met Tony Teso when he accompanied Tony singing "Make Them Hear You." The song always brought tears to Gary's eyes after he lost Tony to cancer in 2010. During Tony's illness, Gary was dedicated to his care and did everything he could to make his last months comfortable. They had been partners in life for 10 years. That partnership brought Tony's niece, Kristina Teso, into Gary's life.

In 2013, Gary met Terry Zimmer online, then in a coffee shop for the first three hours of a conversation that lasted for the rest of their life together. Gary and Terry were married in 2016. In that marriage, Gary added three stepdaughters (Leah Zimmer, Abigail Christian, and Deborah Zimmer) to his family of three cats.

Gary was a loving, generous, and loyal companion. He supported those close to him through hard times and illnesses. His heart was tender toward any animal and broke at the loss of each of his cats. He had a wide range of interests. Gary loved 60s pop culture, British television, Harry Potter, holiday Peanuts shows, and a well-made French gimlet. He took great joy looking for Scottish Fold cats to adopt, anticipating new Fiesta ware arriving in the mail, and traveling to Boston, Door County, and anywhere fun.

Gary was a talented musician and dedicated liturgist, excelling in organ, piano, recorder, flute, and other woodwinds. In the last year, he took drumming lessons to better support his church's music ministry.

Throughout his life, he maintained connection with his St. Louis friends, former choir members and pastors under whom he served, his coworkers at Aurora and the Milwaukee AIDS Project, and recorder ensembles in the Milwaukee Area Recorder Society and Whitewater Early Music Festival. While he was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, he cherished his church family at Gethesemane ELCA in Brookfield where he led the vocal choir, bell choir, and praise band.

Gary is survived by his husband, Terry; his stepdaughters, Leah (Peter Ringenberg), Abigail (Christopher Woolsley), and Deborah; his sister Nancy Dennison and her family; his dear friend Pam Boyd; and his stepniece, Kristina Teso. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, and by his beloved Tony.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wisconsin Humane Society – Milwaukee.

The community of Gethsemane ELCA will be holding a Celebration of Life for Gary on Friday, June 12, at 4:30 p.m. at 13200 W. Greenfield Ave in Brookfield, Wisconsin. A time of food and fellowship will follow.