DENNIS C. STODDEN, 62, of rural Cherokee, Iowa, passed away suddenly, Sunday morning, February 7, 2016 at his farm home.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 11th, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. John's Lutheran Church (Hanover) at rural, Alta, Iowa. Pastor John H. Schmidt will officiate. Burial will be in the Elfsborg Church Cemetery at rural Pomeroy, Iowa. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Thursday. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Dennis Carl Stodden was born on July 23, 1952 in Cherokee, Iowa to Carl & Donna (Harnack) Stodden. His childhood was spent in Marcus, Iowa and graduated from Marcus High School in 1970. After high school he attended Morningside College, graduating with a Business Degree. During college and in the midst of the Vietnam War he was in the Officer Training Program for the U.S. Marine Corps. He had various jobs after college and on June 26, 1976 he was married to Joan Larsen at the Elfsborg Lutheran Church at rural Pomeroy, Iowa. To this union, two daughters were born Heather and Leslie. Dennis returned to the Quimby area and worked for Simonsen's Propane for many years and then was a district manager for America Gas out of Storm Lake for a couple of years. He then worked for VT Industries in Holstein for several years until his retirement.

Dennis loved to cook and garden. He could fix or make almost anything and loved just taking care of his family. He read constantly and could tell you about any science fiction book or any Star Trek movie ever written. He enjoyed caring for his pygmy goats. He adored his grandchildren and always made time for them. He enjoyed playing chess with Liam, coloring with Addison and making Emma giggle.

Dennis was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church (Hanover) at rural Alta, Iowa. He had held many offices and especially enjoyed taking his family when he worked at Camp Okoboji.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Arnold and Arlene Larsen.

He is survived by his wife Joan, two daughters and their families: Heather (Ben) Gates and their son Liam of Amana, Iowa; Leslie (Jeremy) Box and their daughters Addison and Emma of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his sisters and brothers: Diane (Ken) Hansen of Smithville, Missouri; Gary (Christine) Stodden of Davenport, Iowa; David (Sally) Stodden of Marcus, Iowa; Steve (Bev) Stodden of Marcus, Iowa; Carla Stodden of Marcus, Iowa; sister-in-law Elaine Larsen of Waterloo, Iowa; also many nieces and nephews.