Today, DENNIS KERSENBROCK,
is able to do the thing he loved most in life, and that is walking the pressroom and checking his paper inventory in the warehouse at Mini Labels, ordering paper stock, calculating prices and profit margins and visiting with clients and suppliers. He died on Friday, November 13. Dennis was born July 15, 1942, in Elm Springs, Ark., to Morris “Bud” Kersenbrock and Edith Powell Kersenbrock Schroeder. He grew up in Elm Springs and Springdale and worked with his parents on the farm raising cattle, grapes and chickens. He enlisted in the United States Air Force following graduation from Springdale High School in 1960, and served four years, one day and two hours, as he affectionately remembered. He said he had joined the Air Force to see the world and only left the state of Texas a few times for temporary duty in White Sands, New Mexico. It was during his Air Force days that he improved his carpentry skills, which served him well later in life as he and his wife Marlane McLain purchased a number of rental properties and remodeled them in Springdale, Little Rock and Cammack Village. It was during this time that he began riding bulls in local Texas rodeos and training horses for area ranchers.
Early in his sales career, he called on pharmacies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. But his love was working with the pharmacists in Arkansas, many of whom became lifelong friends. In 1983, he started Mini Labels, manufacturing pressure sensitive labels and card stock products. His greatest strength in the printing business was to take printing equipment, modify it and then manufacture products that the press was not specifically designed to do. He always enjoyed a challenge and was happiest when he was calling various manufacturers, machinists and other press operators to pick their brains about modifications he wanted to make on his own equipment. His greatest joy was his family and time spent cooking together, riding on his party barge on Lake Hamilton and sitting on his front porch visiting with neighbors and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Morris Kersenbrock and, just recently, his 99-year-old mother, Edith.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Marlane, his much loved daughter, Mistie Hill, his beloved granddaughter, Sarah Cavin and her husband Tyler, and his partner in crime, grandson, Hamilton Hill. He is also survived by John Hill, a good friend and the father of his grandchildren. All were instrumental in his care during this past two years. Special thanks go to his caregivers Trina Adrow and Danny Crownover.
Dennis was a cradle Lutheran and was extremely active at Christ Lutheran Church. He could be found mowing the property or working with members of the Property Board on various repairs and improvements during his earlier years as a member. He asked that those wanting to remember him make a donation to Christ Lutheran School, 315 South Hughes, Little Rock, Ark., 72205.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 18, 2020, at Christ Lutheran Church in Little Rock. Burial will be 11 a.m., Thursday, November 19, 2020, at Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Springdale. State of Arkansas COVID-19 directives: Face coverings required. Maintain social distancing. Online guestbook www.SmithFamilyCares.com.