Dennis Dale Alden, age 78, passed away this month of natural causes in his home in Lebanon, Illinois. He is survived by his sister, Marlese Alden, his niece, Laura Alden Hanson (Justin) and his nephews, David VanderMolen (Annika) and Eric VanderMolen (Lisa), plus two grand nephews, Parker and Finn VanderMolen, all of Minneapolis, MN.
Born to Dale and Maxine Alden in 1947, he was raised on the farm near Dougherty, Iowa, where he learned to farm, shoot, and fish. He attended Sheffield-Chapin schools, graduating in 1965. He was especially happy when he got his ‘wheels’- his treasured Pontiac Catalina. Then Denny attended Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa where he met his wife Marlene Kolbe and graduated with a degree in Business Management. He played lead guitar in his college band, the Senders, and they opened for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap at Lake Okoboji. Drafted into the Air Force upon graduation in 1969, he was sent to Lackland AFB in SanAntonio TX, Kessler AFB in Biloxi MS, Scott AFB in Belleville IL, and Viet Nam where he was personal secretary to Colonel Nightingale in Phan Rang (because of his speedy typing skills of 90 words per minute)-all in 1971. He was then sent to Grenier Satellite tracking station in Manchester NH and then back to Scott AFB. Upon discharge, he continued his education at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville IL, receiving a master’s degree in Behavioral Counseling. He went on to become the Executive Director at the American Cancer Society, supervising a 3-county area in Southern Illinois.
Denny enjoyed owning fast cars, rock music, riding motorcycles, playing his guitars, antiquing, and cheering for the St. Louis teams. He collected model muscle cars and toy tractors-preferably red ones, and he belonged to the Trans Am club. He will be remembered for his quick wit, solid advice, and keen observation.
He requested no memorial service, and burial will be at the Hampton Cemetery in Iowa in the family plot at a later date. Memorials may be sent to West Fork United Methodist Church, Box 460, Sheffield IA 50475.
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