Shirley A. Dennis' Obituary
Shirley A. Dennis, 90, of Clinton passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Bickford of Clinton.
Visitation will be Tuesday, December 9, 2025 from 11:00am-12:30pm at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory. Private Graveside services will be immediately following visitation at Clinton Lawn Cemetery, serving as pallbearers will be Mark, Chad, Sam, and Matt Dennis, Jared Jarvis, and Curtis Howard. Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes is honored to service Shirley’s family.
Shirley Ann Wharff was born on March 8, 1935 in Newton, Iowa, the daughter of Virgil and Dorothy (Zumwalt) Wharff. She was a 1953 graduate of Clinton High School. She married William (Bill) Dennis at First United Methodist Church in Clinton on May 5, 1957; he preceded her in death on February 5, 1989. She was the store manager at Northwest Fabrics for many years. She also worked at Iowa East Central T.R.A.I.N, Clinton County Seniors and Guzzardos Book Nook.
Shirley was a long-time member of First United Methodist in Clinton where she was involved in the women's circles and served several other needs of the church. She was a Mercy Auxiliary Volunteer, a member of the Women’s Club and a devoted participant in the Wa-Tan-Ye Club. She enjoyed sewing, taking care of her flowers, attending craft shows and reading romance novels.
She also was an all-around sports fan with a special devotion to her Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs and the game of baseball. She loved spending time with her family, created many special memories while traveling across the U.S. on family vacations, cherished time spent with her husband’s family in Pearisburg, VA and especially enjoyed time with her Sister visiting with her family in Osage Beach, MO.
She is survived by her three children: Mark (Pam) Dennis of Arlington Heights, Illinois; Cynthia Howard of Clinton and Chad Dennis of Clinton; grandchildren: Jared, Sam, Lydia, Curtis, Ally and Matt; great grandchildren: Abby, William, Eli, Nellie, Jackson, Emma, Beau and Carter; sister-in-law Janice D. Sargent of Christiansburg, VA; beloved nieces, nephews and special friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, parents and two siblings: Richard “Jack” Wharff and Janice J. Beard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital._The family would also like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Bickford of Clinton for their loving-care, activities, and enablement of resident friendships.
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