Dennis Robert Donnelly, left us suddenly on his 69th birthday Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017. Dennis had spent the morning sprucing up his yard and was cleaning out the little swimming pool for his new chocolate lab puppy when he passed away. Many of his family members were at home but it was too late. Dennis was born in 1948, in Point Pleasant, N.J., to Margaret Ryan and George Donnelly. He was raised in Spring Lake Heights, N.J., and went to Manasquan High School in N.J. In 1966, he married his childhood love, friend and biggest cheerleader, Arlene Baran. In 1975, Dennis moved his young family to Las Vegas to live his dream of building a house on his own, which he did with the help of little hands holding hammers. He eventually built three more houses. Dennis worked as a bricklayer until August 1990, when he began a career with the Clark County School District. His first school district "home" was at Eisenberg Elementary School, where he proudly worked as head custodian for five years. Dennis retired last November from his job with CCSD as a Facilities Service Representative, "the "portable guy." Dennis' loves were his large beautiful family, his yard, his vegetable garden, his many cars (especially the ones that didn't run and presented a challenge), his new puppy, going out to dinner with his wife, helping her at school and playing golf. Dennis planned to spend his retirement fixing up two old trucks, one motorcycle, an old Ford T-Bucket and keeping his two Mustangs working. Dennis was a poster child for the words "work ethic." Dennis is survived by his wife, Arlene; his mother, Margaret Ryan; sons, Dennis Jr. (Tammy), John (Stephanie), Patrick (Kimberly) and Michael (Larissa); 14 grandchildren, Shauna, Nash, Daniel, Quinton, Megan, Ethan, Julianne, Christopher, Ashleigh, Tyler, Danica, Nathan, Anthony and Zackary; three great-granddaughters, Makenna, Karlie Jo, Erin and Kristen; and nephews, Scott, Sean and Nick Brower. Visitation will be 4:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18. Service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, both at Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas, NV 89101. Burial will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Bunkers Memory Gardens Cemetery, 7251 W. Lone Mountain Road.