Dennis ""Papa" "Bronk"" Bronkhorst

HAWARDEN, IOWA- Dennis “Papa” “Bronk” Bronkhorst, 51, passed away suddenly on Saturday, April 9, 2016.

Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Hawarden with Rev. Barb Joy officiating. Burial will follow in the Grace Hill Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday, with the family present from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Dennis Edward Bronkhorst was born July 24, 1964 in Hawarden, Iowa, the son of Dick (Dirk) and Vivian (Marra) Bronkhorst. He grew up in Hawarden where he lived his whole life. Dennis worked in the family business in his teen years for his dad at Butler Bins, Suncrest. He was employed at Coilcraft from 1983-1984 and at Boyer Machine from 1985 to 1998. He owned and ran his own business in the mid 90’s. Dennis worked at Wells Blue Bunny in LeMars from 1998 to 2010, where he met Robin Fertig. They were married on March 16, 2007. Dennis began working at For-Most in Hawarden in 2010 until his death.

He was a member of the Hawarden Fire Department from 1990 to 1999 and was a Storm Chaser. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, where he cooked in the 1980’s.

Dennis had a huge green thumb and always worked in his garden growing tomatoes and taking care of his yard. He enjoyed time in the outdoors and hunting and fishing. He enjoyed using his metal detector to find treasures and working on and restoring cars. He was a gun enthusiast and liked to invent things. He loved spending time with his family, especially his granddaughter, Shelby. Dennis was a great man and will be missed by friends and family.

Survivors include his wife Robin; children Heather Bronkhorst and Dirk Bronkhorst; step-children, Thomas (Victoria) Fertig and their expecting daughter, Jason Fertig, and Tara (Brandon) Zevenbergen, and granddaughter, Shelby Fertig; and his brothers, Rick Bronkhorst, Ron (LeeAnn) Bronkhorst, and Curt (Carol) Bronkhorst and their daughters, Caitlin and Cristine.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents.

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