West Liberty native Dennis Lloyd Wachs, 78, died Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City.
A Celebration of life will be held Friday, July 23, at 2 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in West Liberty. Memorial visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the church. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is caring for Denny’s family. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.
Memorials may be made to Dennis Wachs memorial fund.
Dennis was born July 4, 1943 in West Liberty, the son of Lloyd Wesley and Viola Doris (Middleton) Wachs. He was a graduate of West Liberty High School in the Class of 1961. On Dec. 7, 1963 he was united in marriage to Janice Hetzler in West Liberty.
Denny was employed with Procter and Gamble from 1961 until his retirement in 1998. He later worked in real estate with Ruhl and Ruhl for 11 years.
Denny was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church and West Liberty Golf & Country Club, where he served as a board member. He was an announcer for stock car races throughout Eastern Iowa for many years and was catcher for several fast pitch softball teams including Rohner Machine and Fountain Falls Pet Store. He was an avid buyer, collector and enjoyed tinkering with antique clocks (Denny’s House of Tyme).
For over 40 years, he took a bowling team to the Iowa State Bowling tournament and Denny’s House of Tyme sponsored many bowling teams. He enjoyed golfing, fishing and spending time at his cabin on the Cedar River where he held many Fourth of July birthday celebrations.
Most important was his family as he following his children and grandchildren through many activities even into their adulthood and the Winfield Mt. Union Lady Wolves, where his son coaches. In his later years, he enjoyed gardening and cooking, sharing with many family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Janice of West Liberty, as well as two children including Jodi (Bill) Simon of West Liberty and Mitch Wachs and his significant other, Jill Townsley, of Winfield.
Also surviving are four grandchildren including Jay (Casey) Simon, Justin (Lisa) Simon, Bret (Briana) Simon, Hayley Simon (Oscar), and three children: Kyndal, Keetyn and Kaelyn Townsley of Mitch’s significant other Jill, as well as 14 great grandchildren: Thayer, Lleyton, Beckham, Asher, Evie, Corban, Malachi, Henry, Sam, Josephine, Clara, Alex, Callie and Wesley..
Surviving as well are his mother, Viola Wachs of West Liberty, two sisters: Connie (Denny) Schumaker of Bettendorf, Teri Wachs of Coralville and a brother: Bill (Edie) Wachs of West Liberty, as well as a brother in law: Larry Hetzler of Muscatine.
He was preceded in death by his father, father and mother-in-law, Albert and Mary Grace Hetzler, and a sister-in-law, Beth Hetzler.