Dennis Carey, 82, of Oelwein passed away Thursday July 11, 2024 at Oelwein Healthcare Center in Oelwein. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday July 18, 2024 with a Rosary Service at 6:45 PM at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM on Friday July 19, 2024 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette with Fr. Ralph Davis officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30-10:30AM, before the service. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation.
Dennis Patrick Carey was born in Oelwein on November 23, 1941 to parents Francis and Irene (Fortsch) Carey. He graduated from West Central High School in Maynard with the class of 1960. He then served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1964-1966, as a Military Policeman and an Armed Vehicle Mechanic. On April 8, 1967 he was united in marriage with Roselene Strnad at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette. Dennis was employed with John Deere in Waterloo at the Project Engineering Center as a Tractor Mechanic, retiring in 1992. He also served on the Maynard City Council for several years.
Dennis’s favorite pastime was tinkering in the garage, working on his beloved 1935 Chevy pickup, making sure it could be heard as he cruised the streets of Maynard. He loved building and repairing engines, and also enjoyed entering his pickup in car shows, where he liked the social atmosphere. He was quite the conversationalist, and always had a story, joke, or helpful advice for his second family at the local coffee drinking hangouts. He and Rose loved traveling to Texas in the winters and getting together with their snowbird friends. Dennis loved his family most of all, especially spending time with his grandchildren when they were younger.
Left to celebrate Dennis’s life are his wife Roselene of Oelwein; his children: Kathy Carey of Independence, Karen (Brent) Mager of Oelwein, Kevin Carey of Anamosa and Kimberly (Brian) Reidy of Independence; his grandchildren: Seraphina Carey of Iowa City, Grace Reidy of Independence, Myles Reidy of Independence and Andrew Carey of Anamosa; his siblings: Mike Carey of Maynard, Richard (JoAnn) Carey of Shell Rock, Sue Mahoney of Oelwein, Steve Carey of Westgate and Carol (Warren) Odekirk of Bloomington, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Billy Carey and his in-laws: Joyce Carey and Ray Mahoney.
