HARRIS, Denise Marie (Landherr) 1963-1996

HARRIS, LANDHERR

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 9/16/2014 at 01:17:35

Denise Marie Landherr Harris passed into an eternal life free of pain and suffering and filled with God's loving peace and joy on Saturday evening, November 9, 1996.

Denise was born of the union of Ron and Myrna Landherr at 6:26 a.m., Saturday, November 2, 1963, in Winona, Minnesota, and baptized at St. Mary's. She grew up with three brothers Ray, Clayton, and Curtis in southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa, mostly at the Circle-L Acres near Ridgeway, Iowa. Denise read and reread books, was a whiz at playing marbles, liked to ride her pony, and loved to play all sorts of ball sports and board games with her brothers, as well as card games with her family on the many snow days. Most of all she liked to relive family experiences by watching home movies and looking at pictures.

Throughout her school years in Ridgeway, and Cresco, Iowa, Denise shared her beautiful smile freely, and participated fully in school activities. Musically gifted, Denise played the flute in concert band, and in marching band she was a member of the flag corp and captain her senior year. Denise sang in the Acappella and Swing Choirs, was a member of annual musical productions including a major solo in "Sound of Music," and studied the piano. A favorite memory her parents have is that of listening to Denise play the piano. Denise was a born encourager and nurturer of others, and as such she cheered both boy and girl athletes in junior high, high school, and college. She was also cheerleading captain. Denise was named to the National Honor Society in her junior year, was homecoming queen nominee in her senior year, and received the American Legion Citizenship Award when she graduated from Crestwood High School in May 1982.

Entering Luther College for Fall Semester 1982, Denise met the love of her life, Jeff Harris, from Watertown, Wisconsin. Denise was a student worker in the Treasurer's Office at Luther. Despite health problems, Denise graduated with her Luther class in May 1986 with a B. A. in English Literature.

Denise and Jeff married August 16, 1986 in Assumption Church of Cresco, Iowa, and immediately entered the field of academia, a major focus of their lives. Denise supported Jeff through his MBA studies at the University of Iowa, and his Ph.D. studies at The Ohio State University while holding her own goal of a second degree in nursing. Their early years together were spent in Iowa City where she was employed at the University of Iowa Hospitals in 1986-1987 and again during 1988-1991. They lived briefly in St. Louis during 1988. When they returned to Iowa City, they owned a home near Kinneck Stadium where they enjoyed watching the crowds to and from the games. Denise and Jeff moved to near Columbus, Ohio in 1991 where they lived on North Street in historic "Olde Worthington". They were making plans to move to their new home and new life at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana, when Denise was diagnosed with leukemia.

Denis is the mother of Andy Harris, born March 17, 1988, in St. Louis, Missouri, and she is the mother of Alex Harris, born July 18, 1991, in Iowa City, Iowa. All those years of growing up with three brothers made Denise a natural for parenting her sons with just the right mix of loving nurturing and firm guidance and expectations. All who knew Denise know that Andy and Alex were the joy of her life, and she lives on in their smiles and personalities.

Few have suffered as Denise did for seventeen months was acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). She was diagnosed June 24, 1995, just as she and Jeff were about to realize the fruits of their labor with a position at Notre Dame for Jeff and the freedom to stay home and be a full-time Mom for Denise. Despite a bone marrow transplant from her brother, Father Clayton, on December 29, 1995, the leukemia spread to her central nervous system. Three T-cell transfers from Father Clayton, and numerous chemo and radiation treatments could not stop the ravage. Doctors, nurses, health aids, and support staff at the OSU James Cancer Center marveled at her determination to live, and willingness to endure agony in an effort to beat the disease. Denise had a unique effect on all who treated her, because of her great attitude.

Denise will be remembered in a memorial service in Worthington, Ohio, on Tuesday, November 12. Her brother, Father Clayton Landherr, will offer a funeral service for Denise at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City, Iowa, on Thursday, November 14 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. A memorial Mass will be offered for Denise at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Maryville, Missouri on Sunday, November 17, 1996, at 7:00 p.m.

Thank you to all who have prayed for Denise and hoped for her recovery. The family requests no flowers please, preferring memorial donations to the Denise Landherr Harris Memorial Fund, Nodaway Valley Bank, Maryville, MO 64468. Some people just die young, but the best people -- people like Denise -- are remembered forever.

Denise's parents, Ron and Myrna Landherr, are former residents of northeast Iowa and southeast Colorado.

[NCIGS Obituary Archive, Cresco Times-Plain Dealer, November 1996]