Dennis Wayne “Denny” Parcher, 88, of Rockford, passed away peacefully Friday, September 25, 2026, at the I.O.O.F. Home in Mason City.
A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, at First United Methodist Church in Rockford, 21 3rd St. NW. Visitation will be held at the church from 2 to 4 p.m. before the service. Dennis will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.
Dennis was born March 18, 1938, to Wayne and Carol Woelfer Parcher and grew up in Rockford, where he graduated from Rockford High School. After graduation, he served six years in the Army Reserves.
For decades, farming was much more than a job to Denny. It was one of the great passions of his life. He rarely passed a field without noticing what looked good, what could be improved or what he might have done differently himself.
He enjoyed working with livestock and chickens, but his love for the outdoors stretched well beyond the farm.
Gardening was another passion. Dennis raised both flowers and vegetables and became particularly proud of his hollyhocks, which could grow to an impressive eight feet tall. His vegetable garden was something he gladly shared, often taking requests from family and friends before the seeds had even gone into the ground.
He loved hunting and fishing, especially trips up north, and he made sure the birds around his home were well fed. Feeders could be found hanging from as many reachable tree limbs as possible because, in Denny’s world, no bird should leave hungry.
That same soft spot later extended to a stray tabby kitten that appeared in the yard. The kitten could not be turned away either. She was named Pixie and became part of Denny’s life for the next 17 years.
Sports were another longtime interest. Dennis enjoyed bowling in his younger years and followed football and basketball closely. He routinely headed straight for the sports section of the newspaper and, by the end of a season, seemed to know the players and their contributions across the teams he followed.
He also enjoyed crossword puzzles, collecting state quarters and remained a longtime member of Rockford United Methodist Church.
Dennis married Charlotte on December 4, 1971, and their family included children Ryan, Michelle and Amber along with Charlotte’s son, Mike. Later in life, Dennis met Kathleen, and they married February 16, 2015. Through their marriage, Kenneth and Jenifer also became part of the family Dennis cherished.
Those left to remember Dennis include his wife, Kathy Mullen; children Ryan (Diane) Parcher, Michelle (John) Steenblock and Amber (Patrick) Turner; step-sons Mike (Anne) Kasper and Kenneth Mullen; step-daughter Jenifer Olson; numerous grandchildren, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings Morris (Leona), Dick (Cheryl) and Jill (Gene) Schlueter; and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Carol Parcher.
Family and friends may read the complete obituary and share memories through Conner Colonial Chapel.
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