Dennis Flatley

CONVERSE, Texas - Dennis Read Flatley, 69, of Converse, Texas, formerly of Mason City, Iowa, died Monday (April 4, 2005) of heart failure at home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Walker-Merrick Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa. Cremation was in San Antonio. Military rites will be held at the Clarinda Cemetery immediately following the funeral service, conducted by Clarinda American Legion Post 98 and VFW Post 9230.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Dennis Read Flatley was the first baby born on Christmas Day, 1935, in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1953 and proudly served his country as airman first class, U.S. Air Force Security Service, 1954 to 1957 in California, Texas, Libya, and Crete.

He married Merilyn Louise Calhoon on Nov. 28, 1958. He attended Drake University from 1958-1959, and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He worked as a psychiatric aide in hospitals in Clarinda and Iowa City from 1959-1963, and attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1964 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology.

They settled in Cedar Rapids and he served until 1966 as deputy probation officer, Linn County. Dennis, Louise and their four children were active members of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Louise preceded him in death on March 1, 1971.

Dennis was especially proud of the work he did in juvenile probations. For the next 20 years, he worked for the Iowa Department of Corrections, primarily serving as director of personnel and training (Oakdale).

On June 6, 1974, he married Nancy J. (Imhof) Barfels. Nancy and her daughter joined Dennis and his children in active membership at St. Paul's and together they created a truly blended family. Dennis was a SCUBA and swimming instructor, and performed in Cedar Rapids community theater. He enjoyed a lifelong love of reading, writing, movies, photography and genealogy. He was a published author and poet.

While in Cedar Rapids, Dennis attended Iowa State University (1977-1980) and earned a master of arts degree in political science-public administration.

In 1988, he began work at Quality, Inc., as regional manager (Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle) and subrogation supervisor (Houston). He continued his active participation in Methodist churches in San Diego, Houston and San Antonio. Dennis was a licensed private investigator in California and Texas. In semi-retirement, he worked at Home Depot (Spring) while he and Nancy were in-home caregivers for both of their mothers.

Dennis was a deeply loving husband and an extraordinarily devoted father. He will be remembered for his untiring devotion to his family, his hard work and sacrifice, his creativity and great sense of humor. He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife and children, his large extended family and many friends.

Memorial gifts may be made to Universal City United Methodist Church, 90 Winn Ave., Universal City, Texas 78148. (210) 659-5555.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy J. (Imhof) Flatley, San Antonio, Texas; two daughters, Denise (Dennis) Irby, Kennewick, Wash., and Nancy (Collin) McClain, Saline, Mich.; two sons, Sean (Ana) Flatley, San Antonio, Texas (U.S. Navy, ret.), and Tim (Bevi) Flatley, San Diego, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Katie Barfels Schultz, San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Kathleen (Runner) Hudson, Des Moines, Iowa; 10 grandchildren, Erin, Hannah, James and Peter Irby, Jennica and Kellen McClain, Ronald Juance and Nicholas Merrick and Christopher and Isabel Flatley.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Merilyn Louise (Calhoon) Flatley; and parents. Eldred G. and Martha Jane (Read) Flatley.

Walker-Merrick Funeral Home, Clarinda, (712) 542-2153.