Dennis Koenig

Dennis Lee Koenig was born in a house outside Hardscratch, Iowa on May 22, 1945, to Kenneth Carl Koenig and Esta Louise (Fountain) Koenig. He was a total farm boy, driving his grandfather’s team of horses down the road as a little tyke. Dennis was baptized and confirmed at the Logan Methodist Church. He attended country school through eighth grade and graduated from Logan-Magnolia High School in 1963. He then went on to study at Norfolk Junior College. After this, he attended University of Nebraska where he studied animal science and competed on the livestock judging team. Dennis married Mary Burbridge on June 17, 1967. Dennis and Mary were blessed with four sons – Kurt, Kory, Kelly and Kevin. He entered the Air Force in 1968, where he became an air traffic controller serving in Montana, South Korea and North Dakota. After his service, Dennis was in agricultural retail until the 1990’s, when he moved to the insurance business.

Dennis was active in Toastmasters, Crawford Country Fair Board, Western Iowa Exposition Building Board and the finance committee for the Methodist Church. He was a 4-H leader for 10 years, where he was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2020. He had led the 4-H livestock judging team for several years. Dennis coached flag football and little league baseball for his sons. He also enjoyed going to Canada on the FFA fishing trips. Dennis enjoyed fishing, sports, critiquing his sons and attending grandkids activities. He followed his grandkids showing livestock and going over to check the cows. Dennis was thoroughly engrossed in Kevin’s sports events. He enjoyed cheering on the Braves, Huskers and the Green Bay Packers. Dennis had a heart attack in 2004 which involved open heart surgery and the installation of a defibrillator and pacemaker device, but it didn’t slow him down too much. He worked diligently on his yard and beautiful garden, even though Mary would always tell him to cut back on the size of the garden he would usually add one or two more kinds of vegetables.

Dennis died at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the age of 80 years, nine months and 22 days.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Terry Koenig; parents-in-law, Carl and Ruby Burbridge; and brother-in-law, John Burbridge. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary; four sons Kurt Koenig, Kory (Brenda) Koenig, Kelly Koenig and Kevin Koenig; grandchildren, Josie Koenig and Mason Koenig; sisters-in-law, Charlotte Burbidge, Jane (Ron) Stockfleth and Ann (Rick) Buchmann; and many other nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

Memorials may be directed to Bethel Restoration Project or Denison Church Building Fund