Gayle Lee Denkinger

Gayle L. Denkinger, 87, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Waterloo and Sun Lakes, AZ, passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, under hospice care. She was born August 20, 1936, in Montrose, daughter of Howard L. and Margaret M. Knobbs Price.

She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1954 and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Iowa State Teachers College in 1962. Gayle married Donald "Don" A. Denkinger on November 24, 1962, in Humboldt, IA. He preceded her in death on May 12, 2023. In her younger years, she was an English and theater teacher in Newton and at Waterloo West High School. She spent most of her adult life as a mother, homemaker and volunteer; however, when her daughters were in high school she spent time working for the American Red Cross.

Gayle was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls and Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo. She enjoyed spending her time attending baseball games, doing various activities with friends in Arizona and Waterloo, playing golf and traveling with Don. She also enjoyed playing piano, playing bridge and doing crossword puzzles.

She was a philanthropist and was widely engaged in many civic activities including Covenant Auxiliary, Junior League, Cedar Valley Hospice and PEO.

Gayle is survived by her daughters, Darcel "Darcy" (Timm) Nikolajsen of Denmark, Denise (Tony) Hanson of Cedar Falls, Dana (Mike) Kelly of Downers Grove, IL; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Aubrey, Maggie, Aden, Lee, Jeff (Libby) and Michael (Kayla); one great grandson, Lyle; brother, Richard "Dick" Price of Lusk, WY; nephew, Tom Price of Casper, WY and aunt, Patricia "Pat" Knobbs-Barnes of Plainview, MN.

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister-in-law, nephews, and husband, Don.

Funeral Services: 11 a.m. Friday, June 14, 2024, at St John Lutheran Church, 715 College St, Cedar Falls, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery, Waterloo. Visitation: 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Ave, Waterloo, and for half an hour prior to services on Friday at the church. Memorials may be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice.

Condolences may be left at www.LockeFuneralServices.com. Locke at Tower Park is assisting the family, 319-233-3146.