Dennis Edward Morrissey

Dennis Edward Morrissey

Hiawatha

Dennis Edward Morrissey, 74, of Hiawatha, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2024 at the Iowa City VA Medical Center following a heroic, fifty-year battle against type I diabetes. A Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 16 at noon at St. Patrick Catholic Church by Fr. Dennis Miller and concelebrant, Fr. Ivan Nienhaus. The service will be livestreamed via the St. Patrick Catholic Church Facebook page.

Friends may visit with the family on Monday, April 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Teahen Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Mary; three sons: Ryan (Emily Porter) Morrissey of Georgetown, TX; Sean Morrissey of Germany; Kyle (Jamie) Morrissey of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Felicia (Derek) Altenburg née Van Hauen of Olive Branch, MS; twelve grandchildren: Ellanor, Hudson, Leo and Amelia Morrissey of Cedar Rapids; Nathan, Liam and Lillian Morrissey and their mother, Mona Morrissey née Müller of Tacoma, WA; Margaret, Helen, Oliver and Andrew Morrissey of Georgetown, TX; and Kayden Altenburg of Olive Branch, MS; two sisters: Karen (Duane) Funk of Cedar Rapids and Barbara (Tracy) Eggleston of Mount Vernon; and two brothers: Joseph (Jody) Morrissey of Lead Hill, AR and Loren Morrissey of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia (James “Louie”) Goins.

Dennis was born on May 14, 1949, in Cedar Rapids, the oldest child of Margery Morrissey née Kuhn and David Leo Morrissey. He attended Cedar Rapids Community Schools and graduated in 1967 from La Salle High School. Additionally, Dennis received a Business degree from the University of Iowa and an MBA in 1989 from the University of South Dakota. He was an Army veteran, serving from 1971 to 1977. Dennis married Shirlee Barta on May 29, 1971; they divorced in 1990. On September 4, 2009, he married Mary Graham. In 1975, Dennis began working for the US Postal Service and retired enviably in 2004 on his 55th birthday. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Patrick Catholic Church. He selflessly donated his body to The University of Iowa so that researchers might learn more about type I diabetes.

Dennis enjoyed travel, music, playing bass guitar, and photography, often using Adobe Photoshop. He was a proud father and grandfather and absolutely loved spending time with family.

Dennis, the oldest and wisest, will be greatly missed.

Memorials may be directed to Kyle Morrissey (410 Wilder Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52403) for an aggregated donation to Dennis’ favorite charity.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahen funeral home.com.