Gwendolyn G. Denman passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2019 surrounded by her family that truly adored her. Gwen was born to Gurdon and Cassie (Petty) Denman on November 19, 1921, the third of four children. She grew up on a farm in Schaller, Iowa where she developed many memorable friendships and became the State typing champion of Iowa. It was that honor that awarded her a full ride scholarship to AIB in Des Moines in 1939.
With her knees shaking with fear when her parents dropped her off at the AIB administration building at the age of 18 with no place to live or any friends or acquaintances yet, she waved goodbye and believed that her future was going to be wonderful. After all, she had a piece of paper that said she could type faster than anyone in the state.
That scary drop off moment turned into the best of days when hours later she would meet her lifelong best friend, Leila Gormley, who was her AIB roommate and also the one who introduced Gwen to the kindest and gentlest of men, Kenneth Hayes, who became Gwen’s loving partner for over 70 years.
Gwen worked in an office as a receptionist or management assistant for much of her work life. She worked at Meredith Publishing Company, Pierce County Welfare Department in Tacoma, Washington, Trinity Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN and as a dental receptionist for fifteen years in Des Moines.
Gwen was known for her love for entertaining and creating a home where all were welcome and loved. She was a gifted cook and baker and her favorite book to read was a brand new cook book. The Hayes household often hosted Sunday dinner guests, Friday evening picnic goers on their Beaverdale patio, multiple tables of bridge players on Saturday nights, and daily visits from friends of her children.
Gwen will also be remembered as an avid walker, along with her husband Ken. They would walk miles for a cup of coffee. In her later years, Gwen was seen walking the halls of Wesley Acres both morning and evening.
Gwen was a PEO member, Women’s Club member, and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Gwen had a servant heart and was a model of love and grace. After retirement, she volunteered countless hours at Wesley Acres where she and Ken lived since 1998.
Gwen was a genuine friend to so many. She often said that she and Ken were so happy together because they had so many friends. She would go the extra mile for her friends and she could be trusted to keep a secret forever. It was Gwen’s faith, family and friends that kept her spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving flowing.
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, her three siblings and by her husband, Kenneth. She is survived by her children Gary (Jean) Hayes, Pam (Tom) Truesdell and Steve (Anne) Hayes and 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
A celebration of Gwen’s life will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 28th in the Community Room of Wesley Acres. A gathering for friends and family an hour before the service will be in the Wesley Acres Courtyard where Ken and Gwen spent many hours enjoying the flowers and beauty of this space.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest memorials be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Acres.
With her knees shaking with fear when her parents dropped her off at the AIB administration building at the age of 18 with no place to live or any friends or acquaintances yet, she waved goodbye and believed that her future was going to be wonderful. After all, she had a piece of paper that said she could type faster than anyone in the state.
That scary drop off moment turned into the best of days when hours later she would meet her lifelong best friend, Leila Gormley, who was her AIB roommate and also the one who introduced Gwen to the kindest and gentlest of men, Kenneth Hayes, who became Gwen’s loving partner for over 70 years.
Gwen worked in an office as a receptionist or management assistant for much of her work life. She worked at Meredith Publishing Company, Pierce County Welfare Department in Tacoma, Washington, Trinity Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN and as a dental receptionist for fifteen years in Des Moines.
Gwen was known for her love for entertaining and creating a home where all were welcome and loved. She was a gifted cook and baker and her favorite book to read was a brand new cook book. The Hayes household often hosted Sunday dinner guests, Friday evening picnic goers on their Beaverdale patio, multiple tables of bridge players on Saturday nights, and daily visits from friends of her children.
Gwen will also be remembered as an avid walker, along with her husband Ken. They would walk miles for a cup of coffee. In her later years, Gwen was seen walking the halls of Wesley Acres both morning and evening.
Gwen was a PEO member, Women’s Club member, and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Gwen had a servant heart and was a model of love and grace. After retirement, she volunteered countless hours at Wesley Acres where she and Ken lived since 1998.
Gwen was a genuine friend to so many. She often said that she and Ken were so happy together because they had so many friends. She would go the extra mile for her friends and she could be trusted to keep a secret forever. It was Gwen’s faith, family and friends that kept her spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving flowing.
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, her three siblings and by her husband, Kenneth. She is survived by her children Gary (Jean) Hayes, Pam (Tom) Truesdell and Steve (Anne) Hayes and 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
A celebration of Gwen’s life will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 28th in the Community Room of Wesley Acres. A gathering for friends and family an hour before the service will be in the Wesley Acres Courtyard where Ken and Gwen spent many hours enjoying the flowers and beauty of this space.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest memorials be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Acres.
Gwendolyn G. Denman passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2019 surrounded by her family that truly adored her. Gwen was born to Gurdon and Cassie (Petty) Denman on November 19, 1921, the third of four children. She grew up on a farm in Schaller, Iowa where she developed many memorable friendships and became the State typing champion of Iowa. It was that honor that awarded her a full ride scholarship to AIB in Des Moines in 1939.
With her knees shaking with fear when her parents dropped her off at the AIB administration building at the age of 18 with no place to live or any friends or acquaintances yet, she waved goodbye and believed that her future was going to be wonderful. After all, she had a piece of paper that said she could type faster than anyone in the state.
That scary drop off moment turned into the best of days when hours later she would meet her lifelong best friend, Leila Gormley, who was her AIB roommate and also the one who introduced Gwen to the kindest and gentlest of men, Kenneth Hayes, who became Gwen’s loving partner for over 70 years.
Gwen worked in an office as a receptionist or management assistant for much of her work life. She worked at Meredith Publishing Company, Pierce County Welfare Department in Tacoma, Washington, Trinity Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN and as a dental receptionist for fifteen years in Des Moines.
Gwen was known for her love for entertaining and creating a home where all were welcome and loved. She was a gifted cook and baker and her favorite book to read was a brand new cook book. The Hayes household often hosted Sunday dinner guests, Friday evening picnic goers on their Beaverdale patio, multiple tables of bridge players on Saturday nights, and daily visits from friends of her children.
Gwen will also be remembered as an avid walker, along with her husband Ken. They would walk miles for a cup of coffee. In her later years, Gwen was seen walking the halls of Wesley Acres both morning and evening.
Gwen was a PEO member, Women’s Club member, and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Gwen had a servant heart and was a model of love and grace. After retirement, she volunteered countless hours at Wesley Acres where she and Ken lived since 1998.
Gwen was a genuine friend to so many. She often said that she and Ken were so happy together because they had so many friends. She would go the extra mile for her friends and she could be trusted to keep a secret forever. It was Gwen’s faith, family and friends that kept her spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving flowing.
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, her three siblings and by her husband, Kenneth. She is survived by her children Gary (Jean) Hayes, Pam (Tom) Truesdell and Steve (Anne) Hayes and 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
A celebration of Gwen’s life will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 28th in the Community Room of Wesley Acres. A gathering for friends and family an hour before the service will be in the Wesley Acres Courtyard where Ken and Gwen spent many hours enjoying the flowers and beauty of this space.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest memorials be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Acres.
With her knees shaking with fear when her parents dropped her off at the AIB administration building at the age of 18 with no place to live or any friends or acquaintances yet, she waved goodbye and believed that her future was going to be wonderful. After all, she had a piece of paper that said she could type faster than anyone in the state.
That scary drop off moment turned into the best of days when hours later she would meet her lifelong best friend, Leila Gormley, who was her AIB roommate and also the one who introduced Gwen to the kindest and gentlest of men, Kenneth Hayes, who became Gwen’s loving partner for over 70 years.
Gwen worked in an office as a receptionist or management assistant for much of her work life. She worked at Meredith Publishing Company, Pierce County Welfare Department in Tacoma, Washington, Trinity Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN and as a dental receptionist for fifteen years in Des Moines.
Gwen was known for her love for entertaining and creating a home where all were welcome and loved. She was a gifted cook and baker and her favorite book to read was a brand new cook book. The Hayes household often hosted Sunday dinner guests, Friday evening picnic goers on their Beaverdale patio, multiple tables of bridge players on Saturday nights, and daily visits from friends of her children.
Gwen will also be remembered as an avid walker, along with her husband Ken. They would walk miles for a cup of coffee. In her later years, Gwen was seen walking the halls of Wesley Acres both morning and evening.
Gwen was a PEO member, Women’s Club member, and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Gwen had a servant heart and was a model of love and grace. After retirement, she volunteered countless hours at Wesley Acres where she and Ken lived since 1998.
Gwen was a genuine friend to so many. She often said that she and Ken were so happy together because they had so many friends. She would go the extra mile for her friends and she could be trusted to keep a secret forever. It was Gwen’s faith, family and friends that kept her spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving flowing.
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, her three siblings and by her husband, Kenneth. She is survived by her children Gary (Jean) Hayes, Pam (Tom) Truesdell and Steve (Anne) Hayes and 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
A celebration of Gwen’s life will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, August 28th in the Community Room of Wesley Acres. A gathering for friends and family an hour before the service will be in the Wesley Acres Courtyard where Ken and Gwen spent many hours enjoying the flowers and beauty of this space.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest memorials be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Acres.
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