Dennis Routt Hazle

Dennis Routt Hazle, 84, of Hodgenville passed away peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Baptist Health East in Louisville.

Denny was born in Hodgenville on June 23, 1940. He was the son of Walker and Louise Hazle. Denny grew up in Hodgenville, where he attended Stone House School and graduated from Hodgenville High School in 1957. He was voted the cutest boy by his high school classmates and was a proud member of the Hodgenville Eagles basketball team.

At 17, he started college at the University of Kentucky. He joined the Army Reserves and met his future wife, Pat, in Bowling Green. Denny was accepted into a training program with the Continental Insurance Company and moved to Chicago. Soon after, he and Pat were married and she joined him in the Windy City. She taught elementary school and he took the El train to Continental's office in the Loop. At the conclusion of the training program, with a proposal from Continental for a job in Fargo, North Dakota, Denny decided to return to Hodgenville and join Duckworth, Miller & Williams, starting his career as an independent insurance agent.

Life in Hodgenville ensued with children and the building of a house he would continue to live in for more than 50 years. Denny loved trees, mowing grass and feeding birds. He was always up for a family trip. Denny enjoyed nothing more than a joke with a friend or a stranger. A quick wit, he always had a funny retort at hand. Denny loved University of Kentucky basketball and football and was a longtime season ticket holder of both. Denny was an extrovert who loved people and could talk - and would - to anyone. And when Pat became ill he devoted himself to taking care of her.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Hahn Hazle; his parents, Walker and Louise Hazle; and three brothers, Gay, Larry and Mike Hazle.

Denny is survived by his daughter, Shelly Grace Hazle; a son, Jacob Shane Hazle; a daughter-in-law, Molly Haynes Hazle; two grandsons, Liam Routt Hazle and Greyson Haynes Hazle; a sister, Brenda (Charles) Miller; very special friend and companion, Linda Lee; and his dog, Sam.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home in Hodgenville with Brother Jonathan Carl officiating. Private burial follows in Red Hill Cemetery.

Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hosparus Health Central Kentucky.