John M. Denny

John Milton Denny

November 15, 1933 – August 20, 2024

Born November 15, 1933, in O’Neill, Nebraska, to Harold and Mildred Denny. His family moved frequently during his childhood due to his parents’ professions. Residency included locations such as Fort Smith, Arkansas, during World War II, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Glenwood, Iowa, where he met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Joan Ward.

An amazing accomplishment at Glenwood High School included a long-jump record that lasted over 50 years.

John attended college at Nebraska University, Lincoln, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. John felt strongly about Architecture as early as 12 years old. He thought people would always need a place to live and a place to worship, and his specialty became designing Catholic churches.

John and Joan were married on June 6, 1954, and enjoyed a lovely honeymoon in Lincoln, Nebraska. They’ve been going strong ever since and recently celebrated their 70th Anniversary! They had many adventures and memorable travel experiences with only 3 of the 50 states remaining.

John served in the Army Corps of Engineers as a Reserve Officer for about 7 years, and was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with Joan.

After his military service, John worked for some Architectural firms including Leo A. Daly and Jim Loftus, whom he partnered with, and then he later worked independently. A significant project was the planning and design for a 13 story Veterans’ retirement apartment complex that later became dormitories for Creighton University.

John and Joan have always loved family and were excited at the arrival of their son, Michael, in 1960, then daughter, Linda, in 1963. The family moved to Columbus, Nebraska, for work and were happily blessed with son, Paul, in 1966.

The family enjoyed many years growing together in the Keystone development of Omaha, Nebraska. John worked for University of Nebraska Omaha for 8 years as an Architect. The family were members of Luther Memorial Lutheran church.

When the children became adults, John and Joan made the move to State College, Pennsylvania, and became active in Grace Lutheran Church and their community, while Joan worked for the church and John worked for Penn State University, again as an Architect. He later retired from Penn State, but they continued living there until the move back to Omaha in 2016. They enjoyed their patio home overlooking a golf course for many years (you should have seen his stray ball collection!) before ending up at their current location.

One of John’s impressive hobbies included table tennis, where he won some tournaments, ran a table tennis association and even fixed up an old table at their retirement community for residents to use. He also became quite a talented artist with many acrylic pen and ink drawings that were displayed in galleries and at the retirement community. John even wrote a book which included many of his paintings that he self-published.

John and Joan are members of Rejoice Lutheran Church in Omaha.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Arlene Nielsen and her husband, Chester; sister, Wilma Ward and her husband, Edward; infant son, Denny.

John is survived by his wife, Joan Denny, of Omaha; children: Michael Denny (Clarice Merrill) of Gallup, NM, Linda Denny-Glynn of Kansas City, MO, and Paul Denny (Jessica Martinez) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren: Riley Glynn (Glenda), Makenna Glynn, and Miles Denny; many nieces and nephews. He loved all of you and was very proud of his successful family.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, August 23, 2024, at 11:00AM, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha with VISITATION from 10:00-11:00AM.

INTERMENT: Hillcrest Cemetery

Memorials are suggested to a charity of your choice.