Elbert, Dennis Arthur 'Denny'

Dennis Arthur “Denny” Elbert, 66, of Iowa City, passed away at his home on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. He had been under the care of Iowa City Hospice after a five-year fight against cancer. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Iowa City, with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Iowa City Hospice, St. Patrick Catholic Church or to the Regina Foundation.

Denny was born on Oct. 5, 1945, in Whittemore, to Raymond and Marie (Fandel) Elbert. Denny graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School in Algona. He married his high school sweetheart, Rosalie Hyink, on Oct. 8, 1966. They were married for 45 years.

Denny graduated from the University of Iowa's College of Pharmacy. After graduation, he worked for the College of Pharmacy for 34 years and retired as the assistant director of Pharmaceutical Services.

Denny and Rose Elbert raised five daughters in Iowa City, Wendy Marie (Scott) Punteney of Council Bluffs, Sonja Therese (Tim) Fleischman of West Des Moines, Nicole Rae Elbert of Washington, Ill., Stephanie Anne (Timothy) Foley of Iowa City, and Leah Marie (Jason) Woods of Ankeny. His wife, five daughters, and four sons-in-law mourn his loss, along with seven grandchildren, Madison, Tessa and Kaitlyn Punteney, Joseph “JT” and Morgann Fleischman, and Cael and Anna Woods.

Denny was an active member of Saint Patrick Parish. He served as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist and lector at Mass and as the Regina Board of Education president. He also coached softball with the Iowa City Girls' Softball League. Denny was an avid fisherman and loved working in his garden and yard. He was never happier than when he was fishing with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He was the youngest of five children and is survived by his four siblings, Helen (Marion) Casey of LuVerne, Jim (Patricia) Elbert of Algona, Raymond (Carrie) Elbert of Algona, and Alice (Gale) Stone of Iowa City. His brother-in-law, John (Sharon) Hyink of Algona, also survives him.

His parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Marion and Theresa Hyink; his brother-in-law, Gale Stone; and a niece, Pam Elbert, preceded him in death.

Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 11. 2011.