Dennis Wilfred Hess, the son of Wilfred N. and Alta V. (Hansen) Hess, was born on May 7, 1942, at his parents’ farm home, located 1½ miles east of Prairie Rose Lake in rural Harlan, Iowa. He attended Jackson #9 country school and Harlan High School, graduating in 1960. Denny then began working for Purina in Harlan. On December 30, 1962, he married Peggy Jane Dinesen at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan. The couple lived in the farmhouse on her parents’ farm north of Harlan; after several years, they moved into Harlan. For many years, Denny worked for Burmeister Feed Store and Stowe Red-E-Mix in Harlan.
Denny was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, where he had served on the Board of Trustees some time ago. He loved spending time with his grandchildren. Denny enjoyed collecting Crayola items and toy trucks, watching Nascar racing, and tending to his flowers and lawn. He had many fond memories of playing baseball as a child.
Dennis W. Hess died on Friday, January 28, 2005, at his home in Harlan, Iowa, at the age of 62 years, 8 months, and 21 days.
Preceding Denny in death were his parents and one brother, Duane Hess. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Peggy Hess of Harlan, Iowa; two sons, James (Lisa) Hess of Spencer, Iowa, and Chad Hess of Harlan, Iowa; two brothers, Dewey (Darlene) Hess of Harlan, Iowa, and Dean Hess of Oakland, Iowa; four grandchildren, Megan and Hayle of Spencer, Iowa, and Padyn and Luke of Harlan, Iowa; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, February 1, 2005, at the First United Methodist Church in Harlan, Iowa, with Rev. Ed Frank officiating. Dorothy Norgaard served as the organist, and Mindy Buck was the soloist, accompanied by Mary Lemons. Casket bearers were Rod Hess, Rick Hess, Doug Hess, Jason Hess, Randy Hess, Kevin Hess, Aaron Howe, and Larry Petersen. Burial was in the Jacksonville Cemetery in Jacksonville, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.