Charles Fred Denning

Surrounded by his loving family, Charles Fred Denning, 75, of Longmont, Colorado, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ following a courageous battle with cancer. Charles was born August 21, 1932 near Elm Creek, Nebraska, to Merl Alexander and Eltie Mae (Travis) Denning. He was raised on his family?s farm and graduated from Odessa High School in 1949.In 1952, he was drafted into the US Army and volunteered for duty as a bomb disposal expert. His first duty assignment was at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was also deployed overseas during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Charles worked many details with the Secret Service protecting the president, foreign dignitaries and presidential candidates from homemade bombs. While stationed in Washington, DC, he received an award for work done on the Presidential Inauguration of Richard Milhous Nixon on January 20, 1969. In 1973, Mr. Denning retired from the US Army having earned the rank of Master Sergeant and receiving several awards and medals for his service to his country.Charles met Sharon Kay Osborne in San Francisco, California and the couple was married on March 21, 1957 in Carson City, Nevada. With Mr. Denning?s career in the US Army, the couple lived and raised their children in various parts of the country including California, Hawaii and Pennsylvania. After retiring from the Army, they moved from Corpus Christi, Texas to Longmont. Mr. Denning then worked for 20 years as a heating and air conditioning specialist for the St. Vrain and Boulder Valley School Districts, retiring in 1993.Charles enjoyed woodworking, especially cabinetmaking. He enjoyed watching baseball, basketball and football. The Dennings traveled extensively in their fifth wheel and motorhome and he enjoyed sharing stories of his travels and adventures with his family and friends.His wife of 45 years, Sharon, died November 24, 2002. Charles married Elizabeth ?Liz? Reid Fuller on March 29, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Survivors include his wife, Liz Denning of Longmont; one son, Timothy L. Denning and his wife, Anna, of Irvington, Alabama; four grandchildren, Alicia and Rebecca Denning, and Joey and Jennifer Logan, all of Irvington; one brother, Loren Denning and his wife, Dee, of Grand Island, Nebraska; and two sisters, Caroline Veskarna, and Kathleen McLaughlin, both of Lincoln, Nebraska. He is further survived by Elizabeth?s children, John Dunlap and his wife, Margaret, and their children, Dylan and Katie, of Lake Wiley, South Carolina; and Teresa Pietrzak and her husband, John, and their son, Reid, of Richland, Mississippi; and by numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.Mr. Denning was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sharon Denning, a daughter, Deanna Marie Denning, and a son, Randolph Edward ?Randy? Denning. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2007 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Howe Mortuary, Longmont. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 17, 2007 at Howe Mortuary with David Bradshaw of LifeBridge Christian Church officiating. Interment will follow at Foothills Gardens of Memory with full military honors.Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Boulder County Unit, 6857 Paiute Ave., Niwot, CO 80503. The family also wishes to thank HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties for their compassion and care.Please share thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.