Jerry Ray Dennis
April 21, 1941 — September 04, 2025
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Service Details
Jerry Ray Dennis
Des Moines, Iowa
Heaven just got a little more fun. Jerry Ray Dennis, 84, passed away on September 4, 2025. He was born to Harold and Genevieve Dennis on April 21, 1941.
Jerry graduated from East High School in 1959. He dedicated 44 years of his career to the Pepsi Cola Bottling Company. Even after his retirement, his strong work ethic and passion for connecting with people led him to continue working for Pepsi at the Iowa State Fair until the age of 80.
Jerry had a deep love for the Iowa State Fair, golfing, NASCAR racing and spending time with friends at the Elks. He and Karen enjoyed wintering in Texas, cherishing the warmth and the memories they made there. But more than anything, Jerry loved sharing a good joke and being surrounded by the people he cared about. His laughter and presence lit up every room he entered.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Karen Dennis; his children, Traci (Jon) Nalevanko and Rick (Kristen) Dennis; grandkids, Jonathan (Jenny) Nalevanko, Emily (Brenden) Nalevanko; Jaxson Dennis and Sky Mottet; great grandchildren, Harrison, Harper and Finley Nalevanko.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Genevieve and brother, Steve Dennis.
Family will greet guests on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. A service will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., at the funeral home. Jerry will be laid to rest at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Des Moines Elks Lodge #98, 5420 NE 12th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50327, in loving memory of Jerry.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com
Tom Greif
09/07/2025
Jerry became one of my best friends while we were at Pepsi. We had so much fun working because Jerry was always able to know what we could do to have fun, but still get a job done. Working with Jerry seemed more like “play time” than work; it seemed like whatever we did, mischief would find us!
I loved working the fair with him. Once the morning work was done, we would get on the golf cart and just ride around looking to see what we might find. But when the time came for Karen to be done at their hotdog stand, nobody else mattered until he got her picked up.
Most of the time we would only need to look at each other, and the laughing would start. The last year we did a lot of reminiscing and laughing. The last few days I’ve been looking back at all the fun we have had, knowing that even though Jerry is gone, he’ll always be in my memories.
Randall Grady
09/05/2025
Thanks Jerry for being the great person you was to me and all the others around had so many laughs love body hope to meet again best boss ever thanks