Alvin L. "Al" Denny

Alvin L. “Al” Denny, 92, of Britt, formerly of Klemme, died Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Westview Care Center in Britt.

Memorial services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, August 19th at Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme with Rev. Jeffrey Filkins of Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley officiating. Inurnment will be at Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme with military rites by the Klemme Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Friday, August 18th at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Garner. Arrangements are with Cataldo Funeral Home of Garner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hancock County Health Services, Hospice of North Iowa, Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ or to the donor's choice.

Alvin L. “Al” Denny, the son of August and Rosa (Boetel) Denny, was born January 6, 1925 at the Denny family farm northeast of Hartley, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Evangelical and Reformed Church in Hartley. Sisters, Gladys and Mardella, joined the family in 1927 and 1929. August, who farmed with his brother, Arthur, died suddenly on March 18, 1930. It was the midst of the Great Depression – a time when families took care of their own. It was decided Rosa and her children would continue to live on the farm with Arthur and his wife, Amanda, who was Rosa’s sister. Al and his sisters grew up with Art and Amanda’s children, Verneda, Lavonne, Darrell and Esther. Al attended country school and graduated from Hartley High School in 1943. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944 and took training at Camp Roberts, CA and Camp Butner, NC. His unit was shipped out in January of 1945 and entered combat during the Battle of the Bulge. His unit, Company D, 1st Battalion, 353rd Infantry Regiment was a heavy weapons unit. When the radio operator was wounded, Al was ordered to take the radio and that remained his duty until the war ended. He has battle stars from the Battle of the Rhine River at St. Goar and the Battle of the Moselle River near Trier, Austria. When the war ended Al was assigned to a Special Service Unit in Vienna, Austria. He was honorably discharged on June 18, 1946.

Al returned to Hartley and for a short time, farmed with his uncle, Art. He then became employed by the Rath Packing Company, Waterloo, Iowa, and trained to become a livestock buyer. Al spent several years in the Rath Buying Station at Spencer and was then transferred to Klemme as the station manager. He remained with Rath until the company closed in 1984. Al then became an independent buyer and also drove school bus to transport special education students from Klemme to Forest City.

Al married Dorothy Wilkie on February 7, 1953, at the Congregational Church in Spencer. They became the parents of two sons, A. Michael and Steven Arthur. The family was active in Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme. They enjoyed family vacations with a fold-down camper exploring many parts of our country. A favorite destination was Washington State to visit Dorothy’s brother, Verne, and his family and exploring national parks and historic sites along the way. The other favorite destination was Lee’s Resort at Lake Okoboji. In later years, Al and Dorothy enjoyed traveling both within the United States and in other countries.

Al believed in giving back to the community and did so by serving on the Klemme Community School Board, as a member of the Klemme Lions Club, as a city councilman, and many years on the Klemme Volunteer Fire Department. He was especially proud of being a founding member of the Klemme Recreation Club and actively participating in building the Slippery Elm Golf Course. He was an active member of the Adam Schaefer American Legion Post 625 and the Edwin Jante VFW Post 5515. His service to the wider community included nineteen years as a trustee for the Hancock County Memorial Hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his sons, A. Michael (Pamela) Denny of Algona and Steven A. (Renee) Denny of Garner; grandsons, Levi (Beth) Denny, Tanner Denny and Tyler Denny; granddaughter, Erin (Marek) Olearnik; great grandsons, Brooks and Miles Olearnik and Greyson Denny; sisters, Gladys Kas of Hartley and Mardella (Clarence) Carlson of Iowa City; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt and uncle, Arthur and Amanda Denny; brother-in-law, Bernard Kas; parents-in-law, Floyd and Alice Wilkie; and many other extended family members.

The Lord blessed Al and kept him safe for 92 years and has now welcomed him to his eternal home.