Dennis (Denny) Lee Callaway

Dennis (Denny) Lee Callaway, 78, of Whitten, passed away peacefully Jan. 31, 2025, leaving behind a lifetime of memories, a strong independent spirit and plenty of time spent cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and New York Yankees.

Funeral services for Denny were set for Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown with visitation Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m. also at the funeral home. You are encouraged to attend both the visitation and service in your favorite Hawkeye apparel. To honor his wishes, memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army.

Dennis Lee Callaway was born Aug. 18, 1946. Denny lost his father, Lyle Eugene McKeehan, at a young age but was later adopted by Ray Callaway after his mother, Ruth Arlene Koch remarried, gaining a strong and supportive father figure. In high school, he was a standout in basketball, baseball, and track. His love for sports didn’t end there - he played semi-pro baseball and slow-pitch softball for years and later spent time coaching youth basketball and baseball, sharing his “love of the game” with the next generation. Denny answered the call to serve in the United States Army, spending two years in Vietnam after being drafted. While he didn’t talk much about his time there, he carried a deep sense of duty and resilience throughout his life. 

Hardworking and always willing to lend a hand, Denny did just about everything - he helped on the family farm, worked at Ritchie Industries and Fishers, drove a bus for BCLUW, served as a custodian at the school, and even ran his own business, Satellite Outfitters. Denny was a member of the Jaycees and the Whitten Volunteer Fire Department. He preferred a quieter role in the community but still found ways to stay involved. But if you were looking for him on a Saturday afternoon, chances were he was watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, fishing, or out mowing. After all, he loved being outside, and the lawn was just one of the many things he enjoyed tending to.

He married Enid Beeghly, and together they had two sons: Mickey and Gary. Later, he married Jann (Harrison) Walker, and the family grew to include two daughters: Amy (Robert) Kramer and Cari (Steve) Teske. Denny took great joy in his grandkids: Ciara, Dillon, Lauren, Trenton, Tanner, Treye, Riley, Addyson and Ashtyn.

He is now reunited with his parents and daughter-in-law, Kelley Weis. He leaves behind his children, grandchildren, brothers Kevin (Jo) Callaway and Jim (Tammy) Callaway, and a whole crew of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and even great-great-nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the amazing staff at Allen Hospital, especially those on the third and fourth floors and the hospice care team, for their kindness and support.