Carl Eugene Dennis

Carl Eugene Dennis, the son of Fred B. and Ethel (Dueling) Dennis was born May 1, 1933, in Audubon, Iowa, and died Oct. 16, 2018, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa, at the age of 85 years, 5 months, and 15 days.
Carl was baptized at the Methodist Church in Audubon and attended Audubon Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1952. While attending school, Carl helped his father operate the family grave digging business. He also was a pin setter at the local bowling alley, setting pins for a penny a pin. They also operated a milk route and he helped with the cattle. Additionally, he worked construction, helping with the cement work on the “new” hospital in 1952.
In 1956, he was united in marriage to Rosalie Bean, and they were blessed with one son, Paul. They moved to Indiana where Rosalie’s family lived, and Carl became a salesman for Pepsi and later for #1 Beverage for several years.
On March 2, 1968, he married Betty Drake. This union was blessed with one daughter, Conda, and they blended together their children from earlier marriages, raising six children together. Carl and Betty returned to Iowa in the early 1970s, and Carl worked as a salesman for Madsen Surge and was the number on sales person in the nation for fly spray sales. During this time, he also drove a school bus for the Audubon Community Schools. He was a salesman for Tombstone Pizza, for which he proudly won many awards.
Always a hard worker, Carl also sold for Stewart Sandwiches before purchasing a bar in February 1984. He operated Car-Bet’s Lounge for a number of years before selling it to operate a lawn mowing business for several years. He was then a cashier at the Fast Stop until he fully retired.
Carl loved jokes and joking around, as well as being around family. He loved telling stories about the past – and he had many.
Preceding him in death was his wife Betty Dennis; his son Dennis Drake; his parents Fred and Ethel Dennis; his brothers Bob and wife Vera Dennis and John and wife Mary Dennis; his sister Eloise and husband Jens Madsen; his brothers-in-law Thomas and wife Gloria Hughes and Arthur Eugene Martin, Jr.
Survivors include his children Paul and wife Teresa Dennis of Middletown, Indiana, Terrie Blohm of Audubon, Iowa, John and wife Neecole Drake of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Kelly and husband Devin Beaty of Atlantic, Iowa and Conda Dennis-Thompson and husband Jerry of Audubon, Iowa; numerous grandchildren including his special granddaughter Mercedes Dennis and fiancé Adam Claussen of Audubon, Iowa, many great grandchildren; his sister-in-law Brenda and husband Chris Perry of Anderson, Indiana; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will meet with friends Sunday afternoon, October 21, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Monday morning. October 22, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Steve Christensen, Jim Ellefsen, Russ Dennis, Roger Dennis, Randy Dennis, Rod Soll, and David Dennis. The casket bearers will be Paul Dennis, John Drake, Jerry Thompson, Rod Dennis, Andy Jago, Mark Gregersen, and Rick Soll.