Dennis Lee "Vince" Vincent, 64, died September 8, 2010, at his home in Northfield, Minnesota, following an unexpected July diagnosis of metastasized lung cancer. He completed his life as he had lived it, stoically enduring what had to be faced, appreciating the loyalty and love of family, and comforted by the sky and trees he could see outside his window.

Vince was born February 24, 1946, in Port Huron, Michigan, to Garnet Jean (Moyer) and Meril B (no period) Vincent. His mother and father divorced when he was very young. His father could not work and care for a baby, and Vince grew up in a series of foster homes. His father, however, remained close to him, taking him fishing on weekends and instilling in him his love of the natural world. Vince returned to live with his father when he reached his teens. Upon his graduation from Center Line High School in Center Line, Michigan, in 1964 Vince joined the U.S. Air Force and made it his career. He retired from the Air Force in 1986 after 22 years of service that included stateside tours of duty at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Kincheloe Air Force Base in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan, the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, and overseas duty in Vietnam (1966-67), Okinawa (1974-76), where his family was able to join him, and Korea (1981-82).

While he was stationed in Denver he met and married his wife of 44 years, Cheryl Lynn Stephens Vincent. While stationed at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in 1979 he graduated with honors from the Strategic Air Command Non-Commissioned Officers Academy. He was selected for NCO Leadership School and graduated first in his class.

Following his retirement from the Air Force Vince was employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 20 years as a computer operations specialist based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Vince moved many times in his military career, and he was happy in 2006 to purchase with Lynn their chosen retirement home in Northfield.

Vince was a self-contained man, and, as he would say, not much of a talker, but he was filled with enthusiasm for all of life. He made the most of every day. While stationed in Korea he volunteered to teach English to Koreans who wanted to do business in the U.S. For twelve years he volunteered his computer expertise to the Mitten Bay Girl Scout Council in Saginaw, Michigan, tracking and documenting the Council’s membership statistics. He operated a home business as "The Tinker," offering computer support services to individuals and making woodworking projects. He loved to fish and hunt and was a great fisherman, if not so great a hunter. He loved spending time with his children and his grandchildren. He taught his children to fish and passed on to them his love of being in the outdoors, where he was most content.

He took college courses at the Community College of the Air Force earning his associate’s degree, and in 1992 he graduated from Park University in Parkville, Missouri earning a BS in Management with Distinction. He learned to make his own wine, and in his later years he took up gourmet cooking. He especially loved to bake, and his baked treats were regularly welcomed by his wife’s staff at the Girl Scout Council of Cannon Valley office. He played the accordion as a child and taught himself to play the guitar. He loved all music but especially blues and jazz. He loved the animals that visited his yard, and when he lived in places where he could, he set up feeding stations for birds, deer, wood ducks, possums, and raccoons.

He never asked for much for himself other than a good rum and coffee (his own concoction) , but he was always ready to give to others. He was a loyal and loving husband, father and grandfather; a caring son and son-in-law; a faithful brother; and a good man.

Vince was predeceased by his father, his mother, and his half-sister Sherryl Coleman. He is survived by his wife; two children, Cheryl Lynn Vincent of Flint, Michigan, and Stephen Ward Vincent of Cheyenne, Wyoming; five grandchildren, William and Kayleigh Abbott and Jadelyn, Ryan, and Devon Vincent; and a half-sister, Pamela Redman of Orlando, Indiana.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at Emmaus Church, 712 No. Linden St., Northfield. Visitation will be 4-7PM Tuesday, September 14, 2010, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home at 201 East 4th Street in Northfield and at the church one Wednesday one hour prior to the funeral. Burial will be at the Northfield Cemetery in Northfield, Minnesota.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in remembrance of Vince may be made to The Community Action Center Food Shelf, 1651 Jefferson Parkway, Northfield, MN 55057 or to Friends Anonymous, c/o First National Bank, 329 So. Division St., Northfield, MN 55057.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.