Dennis L. " Denny" Mereness, Kaukauna, age 86, returned to his heavenly home on Monday, January 23, 2017. His devotion and love for his family as well as his firm belief in God gave him peace as he slipped peacefully away surrounded by his loved ones.

Denny was born in Kaukauna on September 22, 1930 to the late Lloyd and Isla (Hendricks) Mereness. He married Betty Hauck on May 31, 1952 at Holy Cross Parish in Butler, MN. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier during the Korean War and was a member of the Kaukauna American Legion Post 41. Denny worked at Thilmany Pulp and Paper as a Head Beater Engineer until his retirement in 1996. He enjoyed tinkering in his garage, building and fixing things and in Betty's words "he was a jack of all trades, anything that needed fixing he took care of." He was a perfectionist when it came to drywalling, a job that he maintained on the side during all of his years at the mill. He was a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish and the Knights of Columbus Kaukauna Council 1033.

Denny is survived by his wife of 64 years, Betty; children: Denise (Mereness) Lessor of Menasha; Cheryl Mereness of Appleton; grandchildren: Dennis Lessor, Danielle Veith and her husband Andrew, Steve Lessor and his wife Nicole, and Jessica Mereness. Denny also had six great grandchildren named Savannah, Alex, Mason, Brody, Jayden and Aristotle. Denny is further survived by his siblings: Lois Martin, Joanne Vohs and her husband Gary, Steve Mereness and his wife Betty, and brother and sister-in-law: Donald Hauck along with his wife Joyce, and Beverly Anderson. He also had many nieces, nephews, other relatives as well as countless friends who will miss him dearly.

In addition to his parents, Denny was preceded in death by his brother, Tom Mereness; and sister and brother-in-law: Dorothy Johnson and her husband Howard, and John Hauck.

Visitation will be held Saturday, January 28, 2017 at ST. KATHARINE DREXEL PARISH – ST. MARY CHURCH (119 W. 7 ^th St. Kaukauna) beginning at 9:00 a.m. until time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Jerome Pastors will officiate.   Military rites conducted by the Jacob Coppus American Legion Post 258 will immediately follow. Committal St. Mary Cemetery.