David Alan Denny

David Alan Denny, age 64, passed away on November 3, 2026. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Berkeley, Missouri, alongside his brothers and sisters.

Dave came from a close-knit family where family was always at the center of life. His mother, Mary Ann, was the true matriarch of the family. She brought everyone together for holidays and birthdays with home-cooked meals, games, crafts, and plenty of love. Dave was very close to both of his parents, Mary Ann and Roy Jackson, known to most as Jack. The importance of family and the traditions his parents created stayed with Dave throughout his life.

Family remained a priority throughout Dave’s life. The Denny family has had property at the Lake of the Ozarks since the lake was first established, and Dave continued that family tradition by building a house on the property, one of his proudest accomplishments. The lake was his happy place and he spent many weeks and weekends making it his second home. He loved boating, fishing, and swimming. When Jennifer and her cousins were young, he could often be found behind his speedboat pulling kids on the torpedo or teaching them to ski. He usually had a wave runner or jet ski nearby, making sure there was always something fun happening on the water. Dave loved to fish and frequently entered fishing tournaments with his friends. The lake provided countless memories for family and friends and was a place where everyone could come together and enjoy time with Dave.

Dave spent more than 20 years as the auto body shop manager for a small, family-owned automotive business. What began primarily as an auto detailing shop grew into a thriving auto body business under his leadership. Dave took great pride in his work, and his customers knew they could trust him to take care of their vehicles.

Family was never far from the business. Everyone in the family took their cars to Dave, whether they needed a repair after an accident, a good detailing, or help finding a new car. Dave was always there to help. He genuinely cared about his customers and treated them like friends. Dave was the ultimate salesman, not because he could sell you something, but because you trusted him with something valuable and knew he would deliver on his word. He built lasting relationships with employees, management, customers, and vendors, many of whom became good friends.

During the years Jennifer worked alongside him while attending college, she got to experience firsthand the relationships he built and the way he treated people. She also got to enjoy some of his familiar routines, including his early lunch followed by a quick 10- to 15-minute nap with his feet propped up on his desk. Everyone knew to let him get his rest, and he would wake up refreshed and ready to go.

One of the special traditions at the shop was Grandpa Jack’s Tuesday lunch visits. Jack would stop by each week to have lunch and, more often than not, conveniently forget his wallet. Dave would treat everyone to lunch, giving them an opportunity to share a meal and spend time together. Those Tuesdays were about much more than lunch; they were another reminder of the special bond Dave shared with his father.

Dave married Denise on July 31, 2006, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and wonderful memories. Denise, with her intelligence, sophistication, strong spirit, and fierce personality, was the perfect match for Dave. She challenged him, kept him on his toes, and brought so much joy to his life. She was his greatest advocate and he loved her deeply.

They shared a love of horses and enjoyed watching horse racing together, sometimes traveling to attend special events such as the Breeders’ Cup. More than anything, they loved spending time together at the Lake of the Ozarks, surrounded by friends and family. Whether enjoying a weekend at the lake, gathering with loved ones, or simply spending time together, they made the most of the life they shared. Dave enjoyed watching NASCAR races, especially driver Kyle Larson, and Dave was excited when he won the Cup this year.

Dave was the life of the party. He loved playing games, making jokes, and getting to know everyone around him. He remembered what people were doing, asked about their lives, and never missed an opportunity to check in and ask how their car was running. He had a gift for making people feel welcome and included, and his generosity, humor, and genuine interest in others made him someone people naturally gravitated toward. Wherever Dave was, there was usually a good time to be had.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Denise; his daughter, Jennifer (Charles); his brothers, Rick (Lisa) and Gary (Dawn); and his sister, Deborah (Robert). He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Barbie Brandt, who loved him as her own son, and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Ken (Julie) Brandt, Mary (Scott) DePolito, John (Angie) Brandt, Cheree (Dave) Daven, and Debbie (Matt) Perl. Dave was preceded in death by his brother-in-law Chris Brandt. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and extended family members who will miss him dearly.

Dave was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Cindy, who selflessly donated a kidney to him more than 20 years ago. Her extraordinary gift was a testament to the love and special bond they shared.

Dave will be remembered for his love of family, his friendships, his generosity, his sense of humor, and the countless memories he created with those fortunate enough to know him. He had a way of bringing people together and making everyone feel like a friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Funeral Mass and Burial

The funeral mass will be held at 10am on Thursday, November 19, 2026 at Saint Patrick's Church located at 405 S Church St, Wentzville, MO 63385. Interment immediately following at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Celebration of Life

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Dave’s life on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Annie Gunn’s Smokehouse in Chesterfield, Missouri.

All are welcome to come share food, stories, and remembrances of Dave as we celebrate his life and the memories we will carry with us.

Donations

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following charities that were near and dear to the team of medical professionals that helped Dave through cancer and kidney disease:

Pedal for the Cause - Bartlett's Bikers

National Kidney Foundation

As a service of Schrader Funeral Home friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.