Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
A memorial service for Jennie “Jean” Denny was held Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Hartley. Dr. Lynn Dau officiated.
Pallbearers were Jeremy Cauwels, Darin Zitterich, Craig Denny, Mike Honkomp, Gannon Cauwels and Greyson Cauwels. Honorary pallbearers were Brooke Mart, Westin Honkomp, Locke Honkomp, Amelia Denny, Jenna Mart, Kennedy Cauwels and Jack Denny. Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Hartley. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.
Jennie “Jean” (Reitsma) Denny, 96, of Hartley, passed away on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley. Born to Wren and Henrietta (Keizer) Reitsma in Hawarden, on Dec. 5, 1927, she was the third of eight children. The family relocated to Rock Valley soon after Jean was born. During her youth she enjoyed getting into mischief with her sisters. She ultimately graduated from high school in Sanborn.
Jean was united in marriage to Donald Denny on Feb. 23, 1950, at the Methodist parsonage in Worthington, Minn. 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 for one year; the following year they moved to a farm north of Hartley where they lived for 17 years. They relocated in 1966 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 62 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, with whom she truly enjoyed spending time.
Jean is survived by her son, Bruce Denny and his wife, Kathy, of George; grandchildren: Teresa (Jeremy) Cauwels, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Lisa (Darin) Zitterich, of Spencer; Craig (Amanda) Denny, of George; and Kara (Mike) Honkomp, also of George; along with nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Gertrude Prochniak, of Fairmont, Minn., and Arlene Frerichs and her husband, Darrell, of Lake Park; brother, Donald Reitsma and his wife, Marilyn, of Cherokee; as well as many other family members and friends.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; daughter, Karen; and four siblings.
