Clinton A. Dennis
Clinton A. Dennis, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Aug. 26. A visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 31, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday. Sept. 1, at 10 a.m., at First Lutheran Church, in Cedar Rapids. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m., sy Pleasant Grove Cemetery, McGregor.
Clint was a part of the Mississippi from the time he was born. He grew up in Waterloo, and was a graduate of Waterloo West High School. He went on to wrestle for Iowa State University and graduated with a B.A. in industrial engineering. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity and an avid Cyclone fan.
Clint married Joyce Schneider on Aug. 23, 1959, and they have resided in Cedar Rapids for most of their married life. Clint was first employed at Collins Radio and subsequently worked for Diamond V. Mills, from which he retired. He spent his life involved with many community organizations. He was a member of the Jaycees, as well as assistant scout master for Boy Scout Troop 766. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and involved with the American Institute of Industrial Engineers.
He considered his children and grandchildren to be his greatest legacy. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family and traveling the country visiting them at their respective schools, including Miami of Ohio, Washington University, Clemson University, St. Louis University, University of Iowa and Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School.
Other passions included the Mississippi River and the Colorado mountains. He grew up spending his summers on the Mississippi River fishing and boating and enjoying life with his river friends. In Colorado, he enjoyed many activities, including skiing, hiking and biking. Clint had a rich sense of humor enjoyed by many. He was a poet and a lover of music, books, puzzles and bluegills.
Clint was a Master Fisherman of the Mississippi River and a founding professor of Sny Magill University (“SMU”). He was a member of the Upper Mississippi Yacht and Boat Club, serving as commodore in 1981, and a member of the cycling Corvairs. He enjoyed bike rides in Iowa, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Colorado.
Clint is preceded in death by his parents Junell Olson Dennis and Clinton A. (“Bud”) Dennis Jr. He is survived by his wife Joyce (nee Schneider) and his children Jill Emmerick (Michael), Dana Gumber and Bradley (Missy Beer). He has six beloved grandchildren: Colton Emmerick (Chicago, Ill.), Jake Emmerick (St. Louis, Mo.), Morgan and Junell Gumber (Vail, Colo.) and Tyler and Lizzy Dennis (Cedar Rapids) and his sister Dr. Denise Dennis Huff (Dr. Dale Huff).
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to the National Mississippi River Museum (50 E. Third St., Port of Dubuque, IA 52001 and www.rivermuseum.com) or Boy Scouts of America (www.scouting.org).
Online condolences may be left at cedarmemorial.com.
