Dr. C. Dendy Garrett

KALONA ? Dr. C. Dendy Garrett, 90, formerly of Des Moines, died July 16, 2014, in Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City.

The body was donated to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 28, 2016, at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona is handling arrangements.

Dr. Garrett was born Nov. 11, 1923, in Pelzer, South Carolina, the son of Calvin and Myrtle (Caldwell) Garrett. He married Eleanor Haywood on June 22, 1946, in Narberth, Pennsylvania.

He graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, earned a Mdiv. degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, and a Doctor of Divinity degree from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, and did graduate studies in Religion in American Culture at the University of Iowa. He served as a Methodist pastor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and in Oskaloosa, Kalona, Riverside, Des Moines, Mount Pleasant, and Iowa City. A graduate of Columbia University Midshipman School, he saw duty as a Naval line officer during World War II and as a Navy chaplain in the Persian Gulf during the Korean War. He retired from the military as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force. He served in many community and state offices in Iowa ?- two years as president of the Des Moines Ministerial Association, two years as chairman of the Governor?s United Nations Committee, vice chairman of the Iowa Council of Social Services, president of the Religious Leaders of Iowa City, president of the Council on finance for the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and as district superintendent of the Perry District of the Iowa Annual Conference. He served as trustee and on the executive board of Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, trustee at Iowa Wesleyan and Simpson colleges, and 10 years on the boards of both Oaknoll Retirement Home in Iowa City and Wesley Acres Retirement Home in Des Moines. He also organized the Iowa Highway Patrol chaplain program. He and his wife served churches with much dedication and vitality. He sponsored and led youth groups and adults to seminars in Washington and New York City. He served as host-leader to many groups visiting Israel, Greece, Jordan, Turkey, England and other European countries. Veteran campers, he and his wife took their children around the country to many state and national parks. He made friends wherever he went and could quickly ?sniff out? a Methodist. In the 1950s he tutored Iowa football players in religion classes in order to keep them eligible to play. Upon retirement, he and his wife made their home in Iowa City, their favorite place on earth. They cherished their season tickets to Hawkeye football games and to women?s basketball games, and were involved in church and volunteer activities while living there. In 2000 they moved to Wesley Acres Retirement Community in Des Moines, where he served as one of the chaplains to the residents. He led Bible studies, called on the sick, and organized Sunday morning services. When health issues arose, he moved to Sunrise Retirement Community in Sioux City.

Surviving are one daughter, Wendy Lego and husband Brad of Sioux City; three sons, Jim and wife Kathy Hannum of Waukon, Doug of Colfax, and Matthew and wife Lisa of San Jose, California; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ellie, on March 17, 2009; one brother, Wyatt Garrett; one sister, Kathleen Tumblin; and one daughter, Kathleen.