08/11/2026
Dennis C. Wurr
Dennis “Denny” Charles Wurr, age 88, of C**n Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, August 17, 2026 at Annunciation Catholic Church in C**n Rapids. Fr. Patrick Behm will be the Celebrant. Lector for the Mass will be Paula Behrens. Music for the Mass will be by the Annunciation Choir with Diane Slater as organist. Eucharist Ministers will be Pat Kult and Jessica Heydon. Casket bearers will be Dillon Wurr, Clay Haley, Tim Henriksen, Chase Ayers, Sid Franzeen, and Frank Kastner. Honorary casket bearers will be Sam Sloss, Kohen Lowe, T.J. Henriksen, Dick Hart, Keith Dorpinghaus, Adam Ebert, Dick Tigges, Mark Kennedy, Kyle Thompson, and Verlin Kraft. Burial will be in Union Township Cemetery in rural C**n Rapids with military honors conducted by the C**n Rapids American Legion and the Iowa Army National Guard.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in C**n Rapids from 2 – 5 P.M. on Sunday where there will be a Rosary prayed at 5 P.M. Additional visitation will be held at Annunciation Catholic Church from 9:00 – 9:45 A.M. on Monday prior to the Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in C**n Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnnandwoodhouse.com
Denny was a man whose hands built, repaired, strengthened, and steadied more than most of us will ever know. For over 40 years, he was known throughout the area as a skilled welder—the kind of man people called when something was broken, important, heavy, or all three. If Dennis could not fix it, there was a good chance it was not meant to be fixed.
Denny lived most of his life within a mile of the home where he grew up, rooted in the same community and countryside that shaped him. He often recalled his elementary school days, carrying a lunch pail packed with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple, and a cookie—sometimes even two cookies if he had been especially good. It was the kind of childhood that built strong legs, a strong work ethic, and probably a deep appreciation for that second cookie. While attending C**n Rapids High School in 1953, Dennis was active in FFA and took a welding class that sparked a lifelong interest. He enjoyed it so much that his father purchased a welder for the home farm, encouraging the development of a skill that would become his career. This is when the legacy began.
In October 1961, Dennis was drafted into the U.S. Army. In December during furlough, Dennis traveled back to Iowa to marry his bride. He then returned and served 18 months in Munich, Germany, and received an honorable discharge in 1963.
Dennis married Sandra Stangl on December 28, 1961, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham, IA. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work, and to this union four children were born: Jaimie, Julie, Michael, and Sheila. Their home and family became another reflection of the steady love and commitment Denny carried through every part of his life.
An expert in his field, Dennis served more than 45 years with the IBWA (Iowa Blacksmiths & Welders Association) and also spent time with the NBWA (National Blacksmith & Welders Association). With his knowledge and likable personality, Denny was proudly elected NBWA president for two terms. He also shared many of his talents with the community. The sculpture park outside C**n Rapids includes numerous pieces of his metal art, including a farm parade, a tractor seat merry-go-round, and a large tractor replica. He was instrumental in the beautification of the Old Carrollton cemetery and helped improve the historic ghost town—another sign of his dedication to his community.
Outside of his work and service to the community, Dennis also found great joy in the rumble, dust, and friendly competition of tractor pulling—a bond he shared with his sons, Jaimie and Mike. The trio hauled tractors across Iowa to see how many people they could out-pull. His grandson, Dillon, eventually joined the pulling team as a young boy, building memories three generations at a time. Denny was active for many years with ICAP (Iowa Central Antique Pullers Association), proudly sharing the track with his Farmall M, Farmall Super M-TA, and another Farmall C, lovingly nicknamed “Sandy’s Sacrifice”—a name that surely came with a story and a knowing smile. He was also recognized by the fair board for the 40 summers he spent preparing the track for the Carroll County Fair tractor pull, a labor of love that reflected his dedication to community, tradition, and making sure things were done right.
He had a gift for working with metal, but his greater gift was the way he worked through life—with patience, grit, humility, and a steady faith in God. Dennis was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years, earning a lifetime membership. He also understood that a good weld took time, care, and attention, and in many ways, that was how he lived: joining together family, friends, neighbors, and community with quiet strength, faith, and love.
Dennis could be practical, maybe a little stubborn when the job called for it, and he likely had a story—or a trick of the trade—for just about every situation. His humor, work ethic, and dependable presence will be remembered by all who had the blessing of knowing him. He leaves behind a legacy not only of things repaired and built, but of faith, kindness, and love that will continue to hold his family together. According to Sandy, his first love was his Super M-TA tractor, second would be his black angus cattle, and third would probably be his wife.
Though he will be deeply missed, Dennis’s family takes comfort in knowing he is now in the care of the Lord, at peace and made whole. And if Heaven ever needs a gate repaired, a hinge strengthened, or something welded just right, we have a feeling Dennis will be ready.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Francis (Skalla); his in-laws, Alver and Irma (Schreck) Stangl; his children, Julie (Wurr) Ayers, Michael Wurr, and Sheila Wurr; his brothers, Lawrence (Wilma) and Vincent (Betty); his sisters, LuEtta (LaVerne) Cashatt and Maxine (Gerald) Haubrich; and his brother-in-law, Ambrose Anthofer.
Survivors include his wife of almost 65 years, Sandy; his son, Jaimie (Doris) Wurr; and his sister, June Anthofer. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren include: Sarah Wurr (Clay Haley), Miranda and Sam Sloss; Jessica Lowe, Raelyn and Kohen; Dillon (Megan) Wurr, Caroline; Chase (Morgan) Ayers, Payton; and Michaela (Tim) Henricksen, Emma, TJ, Kiya, and Finley. He is also survived by many other family members and friends. Especially the Ebert family: Adam, Mary, Heidi, Logan and Tucker.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Thomas Rest Haven and St. Anthony’s Hospital for the exceptional care Dennis received.
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