Dennis Craig Ludwig, born September 8, 1942, known affectionately as “Denny”, Dad, Grampy and Great Grampy, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026 after an illness.

Growing up in Manor, PA as the youngest of five children, Dennis loved playing with his toy soldiers and electric train, later playing school sports and spending time with his friends. At 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviation Radioman and while stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, he began exchanging letters through a mutual friend with Judith (Thompson) Ludwig, from Clinton, MA who was working in D.C. They officially met when he transferred to a new Naval Air Facility in Arlington, VA, quickly fell in love and were soon married and living close to her family in Massachusetts.

Denny and Judy were happily married for 58 years, raising four children of their own in the Holden and Worcester areas. Dennis became a Production Manager at Alden Electronics in Westboro, MA. He was a proud member of the West Boylston American Legion Harold Keith Post #204 until he and Judy moved to the Cape in the early 2000’s where he worked at the Allen Harbor Marina in Harwichport for a short time.

Throughout his life, Dennis enjoyed coaching baseball, hanging with his close friends, attending his grandchildren’s football games, track meets and dance recitals, decorating the tree and setting up his train set every Christmas and hosting cookouts in the Summer. He loved his mother’s meatloaf, Peter Pan peanut butter on white bread or those little shrimp cocktails that come in jars spread on Sociable crackers. He enjoyed watching classic TV shows like The Golden Girls, Andy Griffith and Lawrence Welk specials and cheering for all New England sports teams, especially the Patriots (and sometimes, the Pittsburgh Steelers too!).

Later in life Denny loved hanging with friends at Jack’s 28 club and sitting on his deck in the warm sunshine, waving at the State and Town Police while watching birds at the feeder. Above all, he treasured any time spent with his large, growing family.

Dennis is predeceased by his wife, Judith who was laid to rest in September of 2020, as well as his parents Spencer and Rose Ludwig and his sisters Dolores “Luddy”, Audrey & Donald Ludwig. He will be missed by his children Tracy (Ludwig) Bouquet, Kerry (Ludwig) Orton and fiance’ Bob Simonelli, Craig and wife Caroline Ludwig and Amy (Ludwig) and husband Kenneth DeFeudis. He was “Grampy” to 9 grandchildren ~ Joshua, Alix, Emmaline, Megan, Matthew, Daniel, Caroline, Kevin and Chloe as well as 8 great grandchildren ~ Anderson, Alivia, Laura, Ayla, Isaac, A.J, Rafael and Henry.

He is also survived by his brother Robert Ludwig and nieces, nephews and cousins in PA. He cherished his phone chats with his brother and some good ol’ brotherly football banter.

Dennis was recently asked to complete a journal about himself for his family and in his own words, his advice to everyone is “Life goes on. Love your family, no matter what.”

Services will be held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA on Monday, April 13th at 11:15am. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Deepest condolences to all of you. I remember being amazed when I heard the story years ago of how they came together and married ! May they now join together and watch over their many descendants.

Rest In the sweetest Peace, Dad. You and Mom will be loved and missed forever. ❤️ The DeFeudis Family