Dennis "Denny" Altman

Rock Rapids, IA

     Dennis Gene Altman of Rock Rapids IA passed away Monday December 11th at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by his family.

    Visitation on Thursday December 14th with family present from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm will be held at the 1st Reformed Church in Rock Rapids IA.  Private burial with Military Honors will be at Riverview Cemetery Rock Rapids.

     Funeral service for friends and family will be on Friday December 15th at 11:00 am held at the 1st Reformed Church in Rock Rapids Paster Steven VanWyhe officiating.  Lunch will be served after the service.       Livestream Link to View Service

     In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials directed to the Midwest Honor Flight.

     Dennis Gene Altman was born in Sibley IA on January 20, 1942, to John and Tena (Vogt) Altman.  Denny graduated from Ashton IA High School in 1960.  After high school he joined the Iowa National Guard and worked at JR Woods in Luverne, Minnesota, from there he worked as a mechanic at Quality Motors in Rock Rapids.  Denny met and married Diane Kreun April 6, 1967, they had 2 children Dori and Dave.

     Denny was drafted by the Army and called to active duty in 1968 with the Iowa National Guard and served in Vietnam as an SP5, a Specialist in Communications.  He was stationed in Quang Tri Vietnam, 10 miles from the DMZ for 11 months.  Denny returned from Vietnam and ran his own Corn Shelling business until February 1972 when he went to work for Champlin Gas Company driving gas transport for 18 years.  In 1984 Denny bought into a garbage route and that was the start of Denny’s Sanitation.  In 2014 Denny finally retired and Dave bought his business and he was very proud of Dave.  In retirement he loved going to the shop and checking up to make sure things were done correctly and spending time there with Dave.   Denny was very active with the VFW Post 6960 serving as the Commander for 30 years.  In May of this year he was given the honor of getting to go on the Midwest Honor Flight along with his daughter Dori.  He had a wonderful time in Washington DC and finally received the welcome he deserved for his service to his country.  

     Denny’s pride and joy was his family, he was a wonderful brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved to fish, especially with his grandsons, any time spent with his family was time he cherished. Denny always had time for some coffee or a beer and was welcoming to all. If you saw Denny, his big brother Jack was not usually far behind, they were inseparable.

     He was preceded in death by his parents John and Tena Altman and is survived by his wife Diane of 56 years, daughter Dori & Jeff Vander Woude from Harrisburg SD, son Dave & Dayna (Koedam) Altman from Rock Rapids IA.  His 5 grandchildren who were his pride and joy Derek and Haley VanderWoude, Karsyn, Cooper and Connor Altman.  His brother Jack and and wife Esther Altman and their children Todd Altman & Tami Frischmeyer.

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