Obituary of Jean Denny

    Jennie “Jean” (Reitsma) Denny, 96, of Hartley, Iowa, passed away on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley. Born to Wren and Henrietta (Keizer) Reitsma in Hawarden, Iowa on December 5, 1927, she was the third of eight children. The family relocated to Rock Valley, Iowa soon after Jean was born. During her youth, she enjoyed getting into mischief with her sisters. She ultimately graduated from high school in Sanborn, Iowa.

    On February 23, 1950, Jean was united in marriage to Donald Denny at the Methodist parsonage in Worthington, Minnesota. To this union two children were born: a daughter, Karen and a son, Bruce. Following their marriage, Donald and Jean rented a farm west of Moneta, Iowa for one year; the following year, they moved to a farm north of Hartley where they lived for 17 years. In 1966, they relocated to the farm north of Hartley where they eventually retired. Jean moved to the assisted living portion of Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley in 2015, later transitioning to the nursing home, and spent her remaining days there.

    Jean was a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. She spent most of her life farming side-by-side with her husband of sixty-two years, as well as tending to her large, bountiful gardens. Jean was a wonderful cook and enjoyed baking as well. Many afternoons you could find her catching up with one or more of her sisters during marathon phone conversations. Her pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she truly enjoyed spending time with. 

    Jean is survived by her son, Bruce Denny and his wife, Kathy, of George, Iowa; grandchildren: Teresa (Jeremy) Cauwels of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Lisa (Darin) Zitterich of Spencer, Iowa, Craig (Amanda) Denny of George, Iowa, and Kara (Mike) Honkomp also of George, along with nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Gertrude Prochniak of Fairmont, Minnesota and Arlene Frerichs, and her husband, Darrell, of Lake Park, Iowa; brother, Donald Reitsma and his wife, Marilyn, of Cherokee, Iowa; as well as many other family members and friends.

    Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; daughter, Karen; and four siblings.