Barbara "Denise" Dye

Barbara "Denise" Dye, age 79, of Albia, IA, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Unity Point Health-Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by her loved ones.
Denise was born on December 2, 1945, in Philadelphia, PA, Earnest Marion and Barbara (Romp) Frye. She grew up attending school and graduated from the Albia High School with the class of 1964. She later received an accounting degree from the American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines. Denise married Jerry Lee Dye and to this union, 3 sons were born, Stephen, Richard, and Jamie. Denise and Jerry later divorced.
Denise was a bookkeeper at Baker's grain elevator in Albia. She later moved to Indianola and worked as a Financial Advisor at Principal in Des Moines. Upon moving back, Denise owned and operated Denise's Place in Lovilia for several years before going to work at Pella Corp.
Denise was very strong in her faith. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Albia and later a member of the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene in Moravia. She was a generous person who loved helping Mary Sauter do the shopping for her Pay it Forward program. She enjoyed playing Bingo and was a huge fan of The Price is Right. Above all else, she loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren.
Denise is survived by her 3 sons, Stephen Dye, Richard "Rick" Dye, and Jamie (Alana Havenstrite) Dye; 3 grandchildren, Christopher, Samantha (Cody), and Amanda; 7 great grandchildren. Sophia, Ayden, Carter, Savanna, Kennedy, Rylee, and Everlee; her niece/caregiver, Wendy Beeson; and lifelong friends, Vivian Stafford, Sue Shroyer, and Mary Ann Freshwater. Denise is also survived by several other nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Earnest and Barbara Frye; a daughter-in-law, Laura Farris; and a nephew, Bryan Dye.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Denise's family present to greet family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Pastor Terry Chapman officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Union Chapel Cemetery in Albia.
An open memorial has been established to the family.