Dennis Thomas Poppleton

Dennis Poppleton, 52 was called home by our heavenly father Saturday August 3, 2024, at NARM Coal Mine. He was born March 2, 1972, in Spearfish, SD to Stan Poppleton and Linda Poppleton Whites. He grew up in Gillette, WY attending Twin Spruce Jr. High participating in football and basketball. He went on to attend Campbell County High School, graduating in 1990. He ran cross country for the Camels, he was also involved in bowling and was named Wyoming High School Bowler of the year. He attended business school in Billings, MT and Denver, CO receiving his associate’s degree in accounting. He also attended Black Hills State University. In 1991, he started dating the love of his life Tammi and in 1992 they welcomed their first daughter Dustine. Dennis and Tammi were married on September 23, 1995, in Gillette. They welcomed another daughter Makenzie in 1997, a son Dylan in 1999 and their final daughter Alexis in 2004. Dennis started working at Belle Ayr Coal mine in 1996, he was a hard-working employee there for 23 years until 2019. In the fall of 2019, he started at Peabody’s NARM mine where he was working at the time of his passing. Dennis’s nickname given to him by his coworkers was “Smiley” because you could never find him without his trademark grin or smile. Dennis and Tammi enjoyed making yearly trips to Las Vegas where they had spent their honeymoon. Bowling always remained a favorite hobby for Dennis with the family spending many nights at glow bowling. He also loved any chance he got to go creek fishing. However, he was more than happy and proud to put those hobbies aside to travel the state and country for his kids' sports. From dance to gymnastics, football, baseball where he coached Makenzie and Dylan’s little league teams, basketball, swimming, track, soccer and hockey he was always there supporting them. Watching his kids doing anything made him so proud he would brag about them to everyone. Dennis was a huge Colorado Avalanche fan. Cheering for them loudly at the tv at home or anytime they could get to Colorado to watch a game at Ball Arena. Dennis was also a Boston Celtics fan which led to many rounds of teasing between him and Tammi when they first started dating since she was a Chicago Bulls fan. Michael Jordan or Larry Bird, who was better? The Raiders and St. Louis Cardinals rounded out his favorite teams. He is survived by his wife Tammi of almost 29 years, a daughter Dustine (Josh) Hennigar, daughter Makenzie, his son Dylan (Lexus) and daughter Alexis. Two granddaughters Blakely and Presley who were the light of his life, his Strawberry and his Blueberry. His parents Linda (Ken) Whites, Stan Poppleton and a sister Ryan (Casten) Larsen; Sister-In-Law Pamela (Jeremy) Schillinger, Stepbrothers Steve (Michelle) Whites, Keith (Jeri) Whites and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Jean and Marv Voss, Clarence “Babe” Heinen, Great Grandmother Emerald “GG” Nation, Grandparents Ruth and Richard “Nanny & Poppy” Halbert, Aunt Nikki Bauer and his paternal grandparents. A celebration of Dennis’s life will begin at 11:00 a.m., Saturday August 17, 2024, at New Life Church in Gillette, WY. A memorial account has been set up at Campco Federal Credit Union. Please make donations under Dennis Poppleton Memorial account along with a GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/9427f497. All donations go to benefit his wife and children.