Dennis Tuttle's Obituary
Dennis Dean Tuttle, 68 of Corydon, passed away on July 12, 2021, at MercyOne Des Moines surrounded by his loving family. Dennis was born to Maurice Eugene and Mary Merle (Petty) Tuttle on August 26,1952, in Chariton, Iowa. He was the youngest in a family of 4 children. Dennis attended Seymour Community School: elementary school in Promise City and junior high through high school in Seymour. He was active in many activities, including band, football, basketball, and track. Dennis graduated from Seymour High School in 1970 and then attended DMACC and completed the architectural drafting program.
On February 28, 1970, Dennis married his high school sweetheart, Elaina Smith, and to this union five children were born, Tracy, Deanna, Kristi, Jeffrey, and Heather. In 1973, they purchased the Bill and Dorothy Lash farm southwest of Promise City where they made their home and raised their family and lived the rest of their married life. Dennis worked in the home construction business for 20 years with Eudean Lord and later, Tom Lenig. He loved putting his construction skills to use in his own newly remodeled home, and later on when his children started building or remodeling their own homes.
In 1990, Dennis left the construction business and went into partnership with the late Max Moore, Dale Housh, and Dennis Housh to open Seymour Manufacturing, Inc., where they fabricated wire products. Dennis worked as co-owner and co-operator.
Dennis was a member of the Seymour Community School Board for 15 years, serving 6 years as president and 2 years as vice-president, and he was on the chain gang at home football games for many years. Dennis also served several years on the Wayne County Extension Board.
When the factory closed in 2011, Dennis found more time to devote to his cattle business, to maintaining his parents' and in-laws' farms, and most of all to his family. For several years, he enjoyed a little poultry farm he created. He had ducks, geese, chickens, and guineas. He gave away farm fresh eggs to family, friends, and neighbors.
Dennis worked hard at everything he did. He was a jack of all trades, the "smartest man in the world" as dubbed by his children. He always made time for his pride and joy, his family. His children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter inherited his athletic ability and love of sports, so he and Elaina spent many hours and drove many miles to attend as many of their athletic events and activities as they could. Spending time at Lake Thunderhead with the family, boating, swimming, and camping, was another favorite family activity. And summer was never over until the whole Tuttle clan loaded up their campers and headed to the Iowa State Fair to work at the Livestock Pavilion, and later the Jacobson Center as well. Dennis started this tradition when he first started working at the fair in 1978. Over the years, as they became old enough, most of the family joined him. He served as Livestock Pavilion Superintendent from 2009 through 2019. Dennis made many lasting friendships working at the Iowa State Fair during those 42 years.
Dennis enjoyed country, bluegrass, and gospel music, and in his spare time, he enjoyed picking his banjo that he taught himself to play. Another favorite pastime was riding his 1985 Honda Goldwing which he acquired from his brother Richard. With Elaina on behind him and their tiny Pomeranian Little Bit in his backpack, they would spend the day riding and enjoying the scenery. Dennis had many pets over the years that he loved but he absolutely adored Little Bit as later he would Little Boy and Sassy. Another favorite pet was Bucky the cat. Dennis saved his life and bottle fed him when his mom abandoned him at birth.
Dennis might also be remembered for his orneriness. Always a jokester, especially at family gatherings, everyone learned to not leave their plate unattended or they might end up with missing food items, over- spiced food items, finger holes in your food, or a frosting-less piece of cake. Sometimes he'd watch as you eat a cinnamon roll, saving the juicy center for the last bite, only to have that bite snatched away and gobbled up by Dennis. His family can relate countless stories of his mischievous pranks. There are several stories about a certain gorilla mask.
Dennis really enjoyed trips to Branson, seeing the shows and checking out the flea markets. On one such trip, Dennis and his brother Marvin became interested in the art of scroll sawing and set up lessons for the following year. Dennis took his lessons very seriously and set up his own little scroll saw shop at home where he has made countless numbers of beautiful and unique pieces which he displays in his shop or gives away to family.
Dennis loved his God, his family, his friends, his neighbors, and he loved life. His family believes that if he was asked to describe his life, he would say, "very good, then" as he so often said at the end of a conversation. Dennis never met a stranger. He will be sadly missed.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Elaina Tuttle; children: Tracy Clark (Teddy), Deanna Parham (Gene), Kristi Hornaday (Larry), Jeffrey Tuttle (Krista), Heather Sharp (Devon); grandchildren: Bailee, Karly, Demi and Zach White, Brady and Levi Clark, Chelsey Joiner, Jocey, Hunter and Angler Parham, Kori and Kooper Hornaday, Brody and Addison Tuttle, Noah Wells, Brody, Ashlynn and Landen Sharp; great-granddaughter Blaise Sloan; mother Mary Tuttle; siblings: Richard Tuttle (Karen), Linda Johnston (Phil), Marvin Tuttle (Barb); brother- and sister-in-law Rich and Wendy Choponis and brother-in-law Curtis Smith; and numerous extended family. He is preceded in death by his father Maurice Tuttle, nephews Brian Johnston and Joseph Smith, brother-in-law Terry Smith, and father- and mother-in-law Harold and Mabel Smith.
Funeral service for Dennis will take place at the Seymour Junior High Gymnasium on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 10:30 AM. Visitation will be held at Thomas Funeral Home in Seymour on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM with family present from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Memorials may be made to the Seymour Warriors Athletic Department and condolences can be shared at www.thomasfh.com or www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
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