Dennis Robert Taylor, “Denny,” passed away unexpectedly at home in Troy, Illinois, on August 1, 2026. He was born May 10, 1947, in Highland, Illinois, to Robert A. Taylor and Darlene Taylor, nee Arth. A lifelong Troy resident, Denny was a familiar face around town and a man who took pride in his family, his work, his faith, and his community.
Denny graduated from Triad High School in 1966 and helped with class reunions for many years. He proudly served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was part of two noteworthy missions: Denny was on the rescue force that located survivors of the Lost Platoon in May 1967, and later that summer, Operation Francis Marion, which conducted search and destroy operations in the Vietnamese Central Highlands. After returning home, he served on the Troy Rescue Squad in the 1970s and earned his Emergency Medical Technician certification in 1975 (one of the first in the state of Illinois) and was appointed to serve as a Deputy Coroner in Madison County.
For more than 40 years, Denny owned and operated Denny’s Auto Body. He was good with his hands, good to his customers, and always happiest when there was something to fix, polish, plant, mow, or tinker with. Denny loved classic cars, his garden, and keeping a pristine lawn. He played baseball at the old Sportsman’s Park and later coached and sponsored Little League in the 1990s while supporting his son, Brad.
A lifelong member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, Denny’s faith was important to him. He served on the cemetery board beginning in 2017 and cared deeply for both St. Jerome Cemetery in Troy and Mount Calvary Cemetery in Shiloh. Memorial donations may be made payable to either cemetery in his memory.
Survivors include his beloved wife Christine “Chris,” nee Wolfersberger, Taylor; and his son Bradley Taylor; both of Troy.
Visitation: Friends are welcome from 5-8 pm, Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon, Ill.
Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am, Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at St. Jerome Catholic Church, 507 S. Main, Troy, Ill., with Fr. Kevin Laughery presiding.
Condolences, messages, and tributes may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com. Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O’Fallon, Ill., is serving the Taylor family.
