Linda Denner

Linda Mae (Kolbeck) Denner, 74, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2023 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH after bravely battling pancreatic cancer. She was born June 19, 1949 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to the late Marvin and Rita (Harpenau) Kolbeck. Growing up on a farm in Le Mars, Iowa, Linda was one of four children. She attended Gehlen Catholic Schools before graduating from Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota. Linda began her career as a teacher in Sheldon, Iowa, later moving to Omaha, Nebraska. There she met her husband, Bruce Denner, then a young Captain in the United States Air Force. After three years of dating, they tied the knot on April 21, 1979. The couple's journey with the Air Force led them to overseas tours in Athens, Greece and Mons, Belgium, before they settled in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1988. There, Linda resumed teaching and eventually earned her Masters in Education from Rivier College in 1993. She dedicated 31 years of her life to teaching, most of which were spent as a 4th grade teacher at Sunset Heights Elementary School. Retirement brought a new chapter for Linda in both social circles and the community. She enjoyed playing cards and Mah-jong, participating in groups at the Nashua Senior Center and Nashua Country Club. Linda and Bruce were avid members of the curling team at the Nashua Country Club, and she regularly played golf in the Green Meadow Brady Bunch League. She was also deeply involved in the activities of Immaculate Conception parish, contributing to religious education, parish beautification and the eucharistic ministry. Additionally, Linda volunteered for many years at the Corpus Christi Food Bank. Traveling was one of Linda's great passions, and her time overseas allowed her to explore various parts of Europe. Frequent visits to Iowa to see her extended family were a cherished tradition. In retirement, she embarked on exciting adventures to places like Italy, Scotland, Ireland, China, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and even Antarctica. Annual family visits to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with stops to see friends along the way, were particularly special to Linda. Linda will be deeply missed by her husband Bruce; her two children, Kristin Hort and her husband Josh of Westford, MA; and Laura Denner and her husband Micah of Exeter, NH; and her six grandchildren, Jenna, Morgan and James Hort; and Colette, Micah and Bridget Denner. She is survived by her brother Wayne Kolbeck; sister Janet Dirksen and husband George; and brother-in-law Chuck Beller all of LeMars, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews; while being predeceased by her sister, Jane Beller, and sister-in-law, Linda Kolbeck. The funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Linda Denner will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 7, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Church, 216 East Dunstable Road, Nashua, NH. Friends may pay their respects from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at the Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Ferry Street, Hudson, NH. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua, https://stjosephhospital.com/support-st-joseph/ways-to-give/ where Linda received such compassionate care or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, www.pancan.org, which supports research on the early diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer.