McNurlen, Dennis Ray 1946-2016

MCNURLEN, KELLY, OLSON, WALTER, BOGUNIA, KELLER, GERSDORF, FANK, SCHMITZ, BURKETT, JEFFERSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 7/3/2016 at 07:01:59

Smith Funeral Home
Grinnell, Iowa

DENNIS RAY MCNURLEN

Dennis R. McNurlen, 70, of Grinnell died June 29, 2016, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. John Epperson officiating. Pallbearers will be James McNurlen, Jeff McNurlen, Andy Walter, Jacob Schmitz, Jed Van Zante, Ryan Gersdorf, Dennis "Pee Wee" Whannel and Brad Nelson. Honorary bearers will be Tom Walter, Norm Bogunia, Bryan Fank, James Jefferson, Gary Jones, Floyd Innis, Ron Bryan and Dave Bogunia. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, at the Smith Funeral Home with the family present from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday evening.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Dennis McNurlen Memorial Fund or the McNurlen Homestead Go Fund Me account.

Dennis was born March 11, 1946, in Des Moines, the son of James and Lois Kelly McNurlen. He was raised in Grinnell and was a 1964 graduate of Grinnell High School. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served on the USS Constellation during the Vietnam War. After his discharge in 1967, he returned to Grinnell.

On December 3, 1963, he was united in marriage to Helen Jo Olson, in Montezuma. The couple continued to live in Grinnell where they raised their six children. He was a loyal employee of Donaldson, Inc. in Grinnell as a welder for 41 years. He was a proud member of the United Auto Workers Union.

He was a member of the UAW Local #1201, Grinnell American Legion, the Grinnell Eagles Club, and the American Cribbage Congress including the Grass Roots Program.

Denny was an avid Pittsburg Steelers and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He loved and held a huge passion for playing cribbage and had earned the level of Master of the game. He loved attending family events, watching TV and movies and playing slow-pitch softball and bowling in his younger years. His pet dogs were a big part of his life He believed in following the Golden Rule and enjoyed giving to others, even after his death through the Iowa Donor Network.

Survivors include four daughters, Kelli (Tom) Walter of Grinnell, Terri (Norm) Bogunia of Kettering, Ohio, Bobbi McNurlen of Cedar Rapids and Billi Keller of Marshalltown; two sons, James (Kimberly) McNurlen and Jeff McNurlen, all of Grinnell, six grandchildren, Tobbie Walter of Chicago, Jessica (Ryan) Gersdorf of Pleasant Hill, Andy Walter of Grinnell, Bryan (Carrie) Fank of Littleton, Colorado, Jacob and Alyssa Schmitz of Cedar Rapids; three great-grandchildren, Michelle Burkett, Stella Gersdorf and Emily Fank; and one sister, Sandra (James) Jefferson of Pleasant Hill. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Jo in 2013; and his granddaughter, Allison Jo Schmitz.