Clarence Alfred Denning

Clarence Alfred Denning, 80, of Colby, passed from this earth into the hands of the Lord on June 11, 2025, at Swedish Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. He was born on April 30, 1945, in Hays, Kansas to Alphonse and Clara (Hoff) Denning. After graduating high school in Gorham, KS, he joined the United States Army where he was a helicopter mechanic during the Vietnam War. Clarence married the love of his life, Marilyn Dinkel on August 21, 1965.

He was a jack of all trades, working as a roughneck, as a carpenter, and as a farmer. But he loved to work with iron and fabricate parts, and worked for many years at Murfin Drilling Company as a machinist. If anyone had a problem with anything from a broken wheel chair to an ice cream maker, he was there to fix it. Clarence never met a stranger and was often found talking with people whether he knew them or not.

Clarence is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his daughters, Denise (Peter) Lundquist, Lana Ginther-Samuels, and Jennifer (Jared) Mader; and his grandchildren, Carson and Claire Lundquist, Austin and Bryce Ginther, and Katelyn, Renee, Samuel, and Olivia Mader. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Bender and Judy (Mike) Lohrmeyer.

He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Patricia O’Donnel.

Visitation is 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. The funeral service is at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Celebration Community Church, Colby, with burial at 2:00 p.m. at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Operation Christmas Child and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com