Denny Hendershot, 66, formerly of La Porte City, IA, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2026, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Denny was born on April 22, 1960, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Marlyn and Darlene (Taylor) Hendershot. He attended school in La Porte City and graduated with the Class of 1979.

In 1989, Denny married Dawn Wheeler. Together they welcomed their one and only child, MacKenzie Kaye, on July 22, 1992. Being a dad was one of the greatest joys of his life, and he took pride in sharing his love of hard work, fishing and trucking with his daughter.

His strong work ethic began in his early teens working hogs for Rocky and Mary Brown. He later spent 25 years hauling livestock for Hendershot Trucking. Some of his favorite memories were made on the road with his daughter riding alongside him for weeks at a time. Of course, she had her own pair of overalls and even a cattle prod to match her dad.

In 2011, Denny began working for Mid Iowa Co-op, where he remained until retiring in 2024. Throughout his career he has made many lasting and meaningful friendships.

Outside of work, Denny loved the simple things in life. He was an avid fisherman, and even losing a finger on a fishing trip to Arkansas wasn't enough to keep him from doing what he loved. He was a devoted Green Bay Packer and Iowa Hawkeye fan, watching new games and old, with the same intensity and excitement. One of the highlights of his final years was getting to visit Lambeau field and watching the Packers play in person.

While Denny loved many things, nothing compared to the love he had for his grandbabies. Becoming "Papa Denny" was the role he was born for. His grandbabies were the light of his world and could convince him to do just about anything. Whether it was a trip to Dollar General for something they absolutely "needed", shooting endless games of HORSE in the driveway, heading out to fish, playing taxi driver for all the activities, or making a Starbucks run, every moment with them was treasured. Don't let him fool you, he loved a good Strawberry Frappuccino himself. Before long, he wasn't just Papa to his own grandbabies; he had become "Papa Denny" to everyone.

To know Denny was to know unconditional love. He was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back without a second thought. He never judged people for where they had been or what they were going through, he simply loved them. He loved fiercely, wholeheartedly, and without expecting anything in return.

Whether you were family, a lifelong friend, or someone he'd just met, Denny had a way of making you feel welcome. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering love touched countless lives, and those who were fortunate enough to know him will carry a piece of him with them forever.

One of the things Denny treasured most was family. Not just the family he was born into or the family he built, but the family he gained throughout his life. Even after life changed, the bonds he formed with his former in-laws remained strong. They continued to love, support, and treat him as family, and he cherished those relationships deeply.

Those left to honor his memory are his daughter, MacKenzie (Raymond) Edgar; cherished grandbabies, Lexi, Cayden and Kayleigh; brother, Steve Hendershot; several nieces, nephews extended family and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Brian and Sidney Hendershot.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, July 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the La Porte City Golf Club, 9699 Bishop Road, La Porte City, Iowa.