Huinker, Dennis Frank 1929 - 2022

HUINKER, PITZENBERGER, MOELLERS, TIMP, HEMESATH, ELSBERND, WATT, MACAL, TRESSEL, SULLIVER-KIRCHER, CARNEY, ROTSCHAFER, RUDE, HENNING, BALIK, BURGE, SCHROEHER, BLACK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/16/2022 at 11:12:41

U.S. Veteran

Dennis Frank Huinker, 93, of Calmar, IA, passed away peacefully of natural causes with family at his side in his home on Sept. 12, 2022.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 19, 2022, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 Maryville St. in Calmar with Rev. Daniel Knipper presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military rites.

Visitation will be from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at the Helms Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 South Washington St., Calmar, IA and after 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home on Monday morning. Helms Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Dennis was born on April 11, 1929 on a farm near Festina, IA, the last surviving of seven children born to Edmund S. and Mathilda (Pitzenberger) Huinker. Dennis graduated from Calmar High School in 1947 where he was active in both fine arts and sports, baseball being his favorite. He was involved in 4-H and helped with the family farm until joining the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1951-55 during the Korean War. He was stationed in Great Falls, MT, Las Vegas, NM, and in Japan, earned the rank of Staff Sergeant, was awarded a National Defense Service Medal and played center field on the Air Force baseball team.

While on leave, and at the urging of his brother Dave, Dennis attended a holiday dance where he was reacquainted with Elberta (“Bert”) Moellers, the love of his life. They were married June 18, 1956 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian, and remained graceful dance partners throughout their 62 years of loving marriage. They were a beloved couple and had a strong connection built on faith and mutual respect and their love inspired others. Dennis was a devoted husband and father. Bert once said that, “I knew he was a great guy when I married him but I didn’t know he’d be such a great dad.” When recently asked what he wanted to be remembered for, he responded, “that I was a good dad”—and he certainly was!

Dennis and Bert raised their eight children (four sons, four daughters) on the same farm near Calmar, IA, where Dennis was raised, which they purchased from his parents after he returned from military service. Dennis continued in his father’s footsteps raising purebred swine seedstock, initially with the Poland China breed. His brother Dave was also pivotal in influencing Dennis’ decision to start raising purebred Duroc hogs in the 1960’s, accurately recognizing it as an up-and-coming breed. Dennis became an award-winning, nationally renowned Duroc breeder, exhibited winning animals at local, state, and national shows, sold hogs across the U.S. and to international buyers who he hosted to tour the farm operation. Dennis judged hog shows at state fairs and other events, and inspired two sons to follow in his footsteps in the purebred swine industry. He was also an early proponent of soil conservation techniques, using contour strip crop rotations that looked like a patchwork quilt across the landscape. Dennis and Bert retired in 1992 and moved to Calmar, IA. During retirement, they continued to enjoy attending family sporting and cultural events and wintering in Arizona. They continued to play active roles in the St. Aloysius Church community, such as Pre-Cana, Cursillo, TEC, and singing in the choir.

Dennis adored and was adored by his children and grandchildren, with a special blend of qualities that made him so fun and likable. You’d usually find him with a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye. He was energetic, tough and hard working, also generous, kind and affectionate. He had strong faith and conviction, and was also humble and expressed beliefs subtly—mostly by demonstrating them through his actions. He was protective but also adventurous–not afraid to take risks, and he encouraged us to stretch ourselves. Dennis was a natural athlete, took up golf at age 65, and not long after had his first hole-in-one.

Dennis and Bert were ambassadors of goodwill and kindness. They had friends everywhere and Dennis was always open to meeting new people, striking up conversations with strangers, and inviting visitors or customers to the dinner table so long as Bert could “just add another cup of water to the soup.” He was a legendary card player, especially at the game 500–well known for his “windy bidding.” He logged countless hours at the table, a place where he loved to play cards, exchange jokes, stories and laughter. But on many summer nights he would abruptly halt suppertime chatter with the proclamation–”first batter!”–sparking a quick exodus to the yard where the kids took turns hitting and fielding until it was way too dark to see the ball.

Dennis had a great sense of humor and could deliver a joke like a seasoned story-teller. A memory we love to recall is from Dennis and Bert’s golden wedding celebration. Given our perception of their shared partnership, we were quite surprised when he revealed the secret to their success was the agreement they made at the beginning of their marriage–that “I would make all the big decisions and Bert would make all the small decisions. Luckily so far, there haven’t been any big decisions.” Dennis kept his loving kindness and sense of humor through his final day, and will be dearly missed. His positive impact and influence will live on.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Loving Touch, our private healthcare team, and the staff members at the Howard County Community Hospice, all of whom provided such personal and loving care to Dennis in his home–we called them the “A-Team.”

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents: Edmund S. and Mathilda Huinker; Wife: Elberta (2017); Daughter: Kathleen Timp (2017); infant grandchild, Cory Huinker; Father and Mother-in-law: Frank and Christina Moellers; Sisters: Leona Watt, DeEtta Hemesath, Gladys Elsbernd; Brothers: Alvin, Paul & David Huinker; Sisters-in-law: Malinda Moeller, Georgina & Dorothy Huinker, Virginia Moellers; Brothers-in-law: James Watt, Alphonse Hemesath, Sylvester Moellers, Roger Elsbernd, Roy Macal.

Dennis is survived by 7 Children: Wayne (Roxanne), Decorah; John (Ruth) Calmar; Mike (Kim) Decorah; Ann (Dennis) Tressel, Dubuque; Ed, Iowa City; Jean Sullivan-Kircher (Jim Kircher), Iowa City; Becky (Megan Carney), Chicago; Son-in-law Thomas (Kim) Timp, Dubuque.

21 Grandchildren: Julie (Drew) Rotschafer, Emily Huinker, Lisa (Jason) Rude, Lee (Kristy) Huinker, Jackie (Michael) Henning, Danielle (Noah) Balik, Steven (Courtney) Huinker, Hannah (John) Schroeher, Lydia (Brian) Black, Dane (Taylor) Huinker, Ben (Adrienne) Tressel, Elizabeth Tressel, Rex Huinker, Christina, Carley, Daniel and Claire Sullivan, Nolan (Carlyn), Alexander, Sydney and Samuel Timp.

26 Great Grandchildren: Lauren & Ben Rotschafer, Nora & Tenley Burge, Landon & Riley Rude, Jackson & Mason Huinker, Aunika, Tate & Lucy Balik, Mara, Shea, Sloane, Evie & Quinn Henning, Pearl & Ames Huinker; Jack, Danial & Clara Schroeher, Levi, Will & Ana Black, Camryn & Easton Tressel.

Sisters-in-law: Martha (Dave) Huinker, Ames; Imogene (Roy) Macal, Decorah; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Source: Helms Funeral Home database

St. Aloysius Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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