Dennis Gene Taylor

Dennis Gene Taylor

Cedar Rapids

Dennis Gene Taylor passed peacefully on February 29, 2024, at Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa.

A come-and-go Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at their home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Burial will be held at a later date in the Odebolt Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa.

Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Denny was born on a humid, windy day in the summer of 1946 to Mary and Mickey Taylor in Ottumwa, Iowa. His family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, when he was a child. He graduated from Dowling High School and Iowa State University. In 1969 he married Sara Jane Christiansen. They were blessed with three children.

Denny was an engineer and IT professional in the aerospace and defense industry in Iowa, Utah and Texas before retiring in 2006 in Cedar Rapids.

Times with family were cherished. Favorite memories include Easter egg hunts with the grand puppies, Christmas mornings sporting ugly holiday T-shirts, and family adventures to Alaska, Australia, Belize, California, Canada, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Mexico and New Zealand. He and SJ also explored 49 states together.

Denny enjoyed music, building model cars and planes, flying remote-controlled planes, woodworking, trout fishing, vegetable gardening, technology, and Lego projects. Hobbies shared with SJ, family and friends, revolved around their backyard garden-railway, attending car shows and cruising in their 1937 Chevy, and relaxing at their cabin on Black Hawk Lake in Lake View, Iowa.

Denny was kind, patient, generous and persistent. He worked tirelessly until problems were solved. He was unselfish, especially regarding his family, always putting the needs of the family first.

Survivors include his wife Sara Jane Taylor, married and side-by-side for 55 years. He loved their partnership and nontraditional choices. He was proud of his children Theodore (Julie) Taylor, Alexander Taylor, and Leslie Taylor (significant other Joe); grandchildren: Makayla Taylor (fiancé Evan), Madelyn Taylor, and Jase Taylor.

Other survivors include sister-in-law Susan Taylor; brothers-in-law Allan (Cathy) Christiansen and Marvin Christiansen; nephews Andrew (Sahba) Christiansen and his son Kian, Matthew (Jodi) Christiansen, and Mark (Annelise) Christiansen; nieces Michelle (Scott) Rowe and daughters Harley and Abigail, and Amy (Robert) Sanchez; as well as extended family and friends.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents; brother Michael Taylor; and sister Janet Taylor, Ph.D.