Dennis Misegadis
August 6, 1942 – October 18, 2017
Dennis Misegadis, age 75, passed away on October 18, 2017. He was a resident of Colorado Springs since 1971.
Dennis was born August 6, 1942 in Bison, Kansas to Frank Erwin and Pauline Marjorie (Horacek) Misegadis. He graduated from Bazine High School in 1960 and attended Fort Hays State University. On October 31, 1964 he married Carolyn Sue Walker in Dodge City, Kansas.
He worked in the building industry in Kansas and Colorado. He managed lumber yards and later built custom homes in Colorado Springs under the name Winchester Homes.
His passion was cars and racing. He attended the very first NHRA drag race in Great Bend, Kansas in 1955 with friends. His father, Frank, guided his son’s enthusiasm for cars during those early years which he applied to Mercurys, Fords and Plymouths that he drove and raced. Upon moving to Colorado Springs in 1970 with a young family, he became involved as a crew member in local stock car racing on circle tracks as well as the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
In 1974 Dennis and family joined The Pikes Peak Quarter Midget Association and started racing with his son, Mark. During these initial years with the core members, he was instrumental in building up this new club as well as their new track. All the materials for the tower and concession stand were donated, with his help, by the lumber yard he worked for.
In the early 90s, Dennis and his son started a new classification of racing in Colorado. Outlaw Mini Sprints still run today as Lightning Sprints on Colorado’s dirt tracks. In the mid 90s, Dennis consulted with the initial group of developers who were in the planning stages for PPIR. His suggestions to host racing classes at the speedway, similar to PIR’s Copper World Classic, were later used when the speedway opened. During all of his years, he found time to enjoy Colorado with his family and friends while camping, fishing, four wheeling and boating.
He is survived by his mother, Pauline Misegadis; his children: Mark Misegadis and Paige Siedler; his siblings: Melvin Misegadis and Nina Freed; 3 grandchildren: Nathan Siedler, Cameron Misegadis, and Samantha Siedler; and 2 great-grandchildren: Juniper Jackson and Lucas Siedler. He was preceded in death by his father and his wife.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel. Private inurnment will be at Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum, Garden of Tranquility.