Denning, Michael "Mick" (1926 - 2013)

DENNING, CAVANAUGH, RODENBURG, MURPHY, SWEENEY, MCCARTHY, FISCHER, MCDONALD, BABBITT, KOCK, MEIS, WALLACE CORRIS, DERMODY

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 8/15/2013 at 15:11:42

Michael "Mick" Denning-Age 86

H. Michael “Mick” Denning was born on September 19, 1926 to William “Bill” and Loretto (Cavanaugh) Denning in Omaha, Nebraska. Mick was one of nine children in the family. He attended Frog Pond “Swamp College” country school through grades school. He played basketball and football for Shelby High School and was Homecoming King. He graduated from Shelby High School with the Class of 1945.

Mick married Marjorie Rodenburg in May of 1951. One daughter, Julie, was born to this union. Marjorie died in January of 1953.

Mick married Eileen Murphy on August 3, 1963 in Stuart, Nebraska. Seven children were born to this union: Sophie, Jennifer, Tony, Maureen, Ted, J. and Kelly.

The family made their home in Neola, Iowa. In 1972, they moved to a farm west of Avoca, Iowa in Pleasant Township. Mick farmed, fed cattle, raised Holstein and hogs through the years and retired in September of 1991. He worked for Randy Pauley from 2009 until 2012.

Mick attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Neola before moving to Avoca. After the move, he then became a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca and was active in tearing down the old church and then building the current St. Mary’s Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and in 1999, he was very proud to become a 4th degree Knight.

Mick was a devoted family man; he enjoyed spending time with his family and attending his children and grandchildren’s activities. He enjoyed “scrimmaging” with his kids and grandkids. Mick was a truthful man who enjoyed life and who will be remembered by many as being quite the jokester. His sense of humor may be the reason why he was able to make friends with people so easily. He always seemed to know someone when traveling on vacation, but if he didn’t already know someone, he would always have friends by the time he left.

Mick died peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 having attained the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 22 days. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; a daughter, Sophie; and brothers-in-law, Robert Sweeney, Don McCarthy, Leo Fischer, and Jack McDonald.

He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Eileen Denning of Avoca, Iowa; his children: Julie (Vaughn) Babbitt of Emerson, Iowa, Jennifer (Steve) Kock of Hancock, Iowa, Tony (Kathy) Denning of Avoca, Maureen (Conrad) Meis of Algona, Iowa, Ted (Stacie) Denning of Neola, Iowa, J. Denning, and Kelly Denning of Kansas City, Missouri; 19 grandchildren: Nathan (Jennifer) Babbitt, and their children Mya and Jake, Michael (Carrie) Babbitt, and their children Laura, Quinn, and Holly, Jared (Betsy) Babbitt, and their child, Brielle, Sophie, Olivia, and Julia Kock, Hannah, Josie, Claire, and Nick Denning, Maria, John, Joseph, and Daniel Meis, and Zach, Josh, Sara, Michael and Grace Denning; Mick’s siblings: Mary Corrine Sweeney of Denver, Colorado, Eugene (Carolyn) Denning of Neola, JoAnn (Wallace) Corrin of Neola, Bernard (Martha) Denning of Neola, Leone McCarthy of Omaha, Nebraska, Pauline Fischer of Neola, Angela McDonald of New Cambria, Missouri, and Kathleen (Mike) Dermody of Saint Louis, Missouri; many cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Rev. Thomas Dooley celebrated the 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Sondra Dea accompanied the St. Mary’s Choir, Tom LaHood, and Cheri Murphy. Honorary casket bearers were Mick’s grandchildren: Olivia Kock, Julia Kock, Josie Denning, Claire Denning, Nick Denning, John Meis, Joseph Meis, Daniel Meis, Sara Denning, Michael Denning, and Grace Denning. Burial was held in the St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Neola, Iowa with Nathan Babbitt, Michael Babbitt, Jared Babbitt, Sophie Kock, Hannah Denning, Maria Meis, Zach Denning, and Josh Denning, who are also grandchildren, serving as casket bearers.

Source: pauleyjones.com (Pauley Jones Funeral Home)
Posted by permission