Dennis Griffin

1953 - 2026

A memorial service for Dennis Griffin, 72, of Greene, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 324 East Traer St., Greene. Pastor ChyAnne Slick will be officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Friday, March 20, at the church and continue one hour before the memorial service on Saturday.

Dennis John Griffin was born Oct. 7, 1953, in Grinnell to John and Gayle (Gross) Griffin and died peacefully surrounded by his family on March 10 at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage.

Dennis attended elementary school in Brooklyn. He graduated from Dysart-Geneseo High School with the class of 1972. He attended Northwestern College in Orange City, where he played on the Red Raiders football team from 1972-1975. He graduated in the spring of 1976 with a degree in elementary education.

Dennis moved to Greene in the fall of 1976 to teach fifth and sixth grade at Greene Elementary and coached several junior high and high school sports teams.

It was during his time as a teacher that Dennis met the love of his life, Peggy Marie Steere. They were united in marriage in 1981 at St. Peter Lutheran Church and were later blessed with two sons.

After teaching for four years, he embarked on a 30+ year career in carpentry. Dennis was dedicated to providing high-quality work in remodeling and building projects in Greene and the surrounding communities.

Dennis was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1998, fighting a heroic 28-year cancer battle.

One of Dennis's many blessings was his voice. He shared his faith by performing at numerous weddings, funerals and church services. He was a member of the church choir and praise worship team at St. Peter Lutheran Church. Dennis enjoyed singing with the Greene Community Chorus in the annual Christmas Cantata, stepping up to direct it for numerous years. On days of his cancer appointments and treatments, Dennis touched many lives by singing and playing music in the waiting room of MercyOne North Iowa Cancer Center and the lobby at Mercy One Hospital in Mason City.

Dennis also loved hunting, fishing, and biking with his wife. Spending time with his family and attending his sons' and grandsons' numerous sporting events and extracurricular activities brought joy to Dennis's life.

Dennis is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years, Peggy; two sons, Tyler (Bailey) Griffin of Hudson and Clint (Sophie) Griffin of Cedar Falls; grandsons, Greyson, Knox and Bode Griffin, all of Hudson; mother, Gayle Griffin of Cedar Falls; sister, Diane Langbehn of Marion; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dennis is preceded in death by his father, John, and brother, Dan.

Memorials may be directed to the Griffin family for a later designation in Dennis's name.