Denis William Budds

Denis W. Budds, age 79, of South Rockwood, Michigan passed away on Thursday, February 6, 2025 in Taylor, Michigan.
Born on June 26, 1945 in Monroe, Michigan, he was the son of William and Mary (Nadolski) Budds. On May 30, 1981, he married Karen Laritz in Las Vegas, NV.
After work in a Detroit steel mill and for the DT&I railroad, he attended the University of Michigan and the Wayne State University Law School. He was first licensed to practice law in 1971 and practiced the majority of those 53 years in his own Law Office of Denis W. Budds in Flat Rock, Michigan.
Denis was a man who truly loved his family, his practice, and his community. He served as the attorney for the Village of South Rockwood for decades. He volunteered on the finance committee for Gabriel Richard High School in support of his children's education. Denis and Karen supported the Friends of the South Rockwood Library and the construction of the new Library and Community Room.
Denis was an avid reader of history books, with a particular affinity for biographies of United States Presidents - especially Abraham Lincoln. He enjoyed viewing and collecting historical maps, especially those of the State of Michigan that depicted Flat Rock or South Rockwood.
He enjoyed traveling with Karen to places throughout the United States and he always tried to visit a national park or place of historical significance. He also shared travels with his boys as they grew up. Each year, they would take an annual "Male Bonding Trip" that included different city or area in North America. Each trip would include a baseball game, a historical site, and a factory tour. Many of those tours were to breweries which was based on Denis' interest in the industry relating back to his parents' proprietorship of the Budds' Inn in Flat Rock rather than his own taste.
Denis was preceded in death by his parents and several other family members.
He is survived by his wife, Karen and his sons, Matthew (Dana), Bryan (Julie), He will be missed by his grandchildren, Evan, Walter, Kelcie, Claire, and Emily. He is also survived by many other family members and friends.
Visitation will be held at Bobcean Funeral Home, Flat Rock Chapel on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Instate at St. Mary, Our Lady of the Annunciation, Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 10 am until Mass of the Resurrection at 10:30 am. Father James R. Rafferty will officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Friends of the South Rockwood Library, P.O. Box 181, South Rockwood, MI 48179.