Dennis ‘Uncle Denny’ Brakel

Dennis “Uncle Denny” Brakel, 65, of Mason City, formerly Charles City, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

A funeral service for Dennis Brakel will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2016 at Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City. Pastor Martha Bennett from Grace United Methodist Church in Floyd will officiate. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Charles City. Family and Friends are invited to attend luncheon immediately following.

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. at Hauser Funeral Home on Sunday, April 3, and will continue one hour prior to the funeral service at the funeral home on Monday.

Dennis Lyle Brakel was born Oct. 11, 1950 in Charles City to Lyle Brakel and Dorothy (Ranney) Putney. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1969 and after a few months joined the Navy and served during the Vietnam War. During his deployment, he was stationed in the Philippines and at time of discharge had served almost three years aboard the U.S.S. Thomaston. Upon his return he met and married Althea Parker in 1972. They divorced a short time after, but became friends later in life. In 1982, Dennis received a doctor of divinity and pastoral counselor. He was officially listed and recognized as a pastor June 20, 1982 in Indianola. Ironically, the sermon that day was “God’s love is a hug” simply because Denny’s favorite saying was, “You know the best part of giving a hug — you get one back!” He was employed many years as a welder at Winnebago in Forest City, drove Ryder trucks (allowing him to see a lot of Iowa and the U.S.) and most recently at Walmart as a night stocker.

Denny enjoyed many activities like leatherwork, making dream catchers and watching friends perform in local bands. He could often be seen with a camera in his hand even though he wasn’t always fond of having his picture taken. Denny enjoyed technology from the birth of Atari to present and everything in between. He loved spending time with his family and friends above anything else, joking and telling stories. After becoming ill, he took a new view on life and to quote him he “became a yes man!”, ready for whatever new adventure came his way, which led to his love of roller derby. He was the #1 fan for the River City Dames of Anarchy and the Dakota City Demolition Crew; a title he held proudly. He never missed a bout until the last few months of his life. Denny loved birds and had four parrots. He would show complete strangers videos of them he was so proud of them like his children. He had a very quick wit and loved to joke.

Surviving family members include his mother, Dorothy Putney of Charles City; son, Dennis Brakel, Jr. of Fort Myers, Fla.; five grandchildren: Kaylee (and her two children), Dylan and Devin all of Charles City, Terra and Tahlor of Fla.; seven siblings: Linda (Jim) Lantz of Floyd, Dean (Joy) Brakel of Key West, Fla., Michael Brakel of Marble Rock, Pat (Don) Somerlot of Marshalltown, Barb (Louie) Boullion of Charles City, Bonnie (Jim) Caulkins of Caldwell, Idaho and Mary (Rick) Steere of Greene; a special niece, Brandy Juenger (Dylan Hippen) and her son Degan; and numerous other nephews, cousins and other extended family including his four parrots: Arlo, Oliver, Al and Waldo.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lyle and a brother, Larry Brakel.

Hauser Funeral Home, 641-228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.

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