Dennis (Denny) Ray Briles, 72, of Lewis, Iowa, died Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Dennis Ray was born on May 10, 1953, in Atlantic, Iowa, the son of Raymond Lloyd and Nellie (Williams) Briles. In 1962, the family made Lewis, Iowa, their home. He graduated with the Class of 1972 from Griswold High School.
On October 14, 1973, he was united in marriage to Deborah Krueger at the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa. The couple was blessed with three children Stephanie, Tricia, and Steven.
Denny started his working career at the Oakland Packing Plant and later American Builders, until it closed. His work ethic was evident in the fact that he was a jack of all trades and held several different jobs. In 1994, Denny’s willingness to work hard paid off when he was offered a job at Parker Hannifin in Red Oak, Iowa, until his retirement in 2019. Even after retirement, he was busier than ever but found time to enjoy a little down time and getting caught up on his favorite TV shows including Westerns and Red Green.
He was not one to sit idle; he was the one that everyone came to when they needed something fixed, built, or cleaned up. But always took any chance he could to boat, camp, and fish. In his garage there was always a project in the works and ratchet straps, bungee cords, and flashlights galore. Anywhere he could throw a line in the water was good enough for him but one of his favorites was walking Turkey Creek and stopping on the same sandbar every time to roast his hot dogs.
Denny would talk to anyone because he didn’t know a stranger. He was notorious in giving everyone nicknames, even his grandkids. He was a story teller and it wasn’t unlike him to go into a business telling his family, “It’ll be quick!” only to return to the car SEVERAL hours later. One of his favorites stops was N-A-P-A. If you were lucky enough to meet Denny on the road, you’d be greeted with his index finger giving you that little shake.
Denny is survived by his wife of 51 years, Debbie Briles; Children, Stephanie (Christopher) Cox, Tricia Briles, and Steven Briles; grandchildren, Taylor (Kyrstin), Blake, Ember, River, and Cheraya; great-granddaughter, Teagan; Sister, Donna (Joe) Eblen; brother, Melvin (Connie) Briles; mother-in-law, Marilyn Stein; his four-legged friend, Dollie; and many extended family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Nellie Briles; father-in-law, Lyle Krueger; grandchildren in infancy, Rygel Marcus and Chiana Elizabeth; sister, Shirley Anderson; brother-in-law, Phil Anderson; sister-in-law, DeLila “De” Briles; and niece and nephew in infancy, Zeek and Zoey Peterson.
Open visitation, with no family present, will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, August 28th and Friday, August 29th at Roland Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, August 30th at the Lewis Community Center. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis. Following the services at the cemetery the family invites you back to the Lewis Community Center to share memories and to satisfy your sweet tooth the way he did with Twizzlers, Little Debbie Cakes and Coca-Cola! In staying true to who Denny was the family requests you wear something comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, plants and keepsakes the family requests memorials be given to be used at a later time to benefit others in memory of Denny.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Denny’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
