Dena Ott

August 26, 1920 - September 12, 2020

Dena Ott, 100, of Oskaloosa, died on Saturday, September 12, 2020, just 17 days after her 100th birthday, at the MHP Hospital in Oskaloosa. Dena was born August 26, 1920, in Eddyville, Iowa, the daughter of Jacob and Della Bos Klein. She attended country school in Mahaska County. Following school, she helped on the family farm and drove trucks for her brothers. On June 24, 1942, she was united in marriage to Irvin Ott, in Lancaster, Missouri. Following their marriage, Irvin was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and Dena moved there with him. Upon his discharge from the military, the couple returned to Mahaska County. Dena primarily stayed home to care for her family and home. She helped Irvin part-time at the Sunrise Market in Oskaloosa. When her children were in their teens, she went to work at Jack and Jill Grocery and later for Easter’s Grocery Store in Oskaloosa. Last she worked at Wal-Mart in Oskaloosa for 20 years. Her family strongly suggested that at the age of 94 it was probably a good time to retire. On November 29, 1984, Irvin died. Dena stayed in her home until 2017, when she moved into Homestead Assisted Living in Oskaloosa. She was a member of the Oskaloosa American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed antiques, going to garage sales, and refinishing furniture. Her true joy in life was spending time with her family. Her family includes her four children, Lynda (Tom) Main of Bentonville, Arkansas, Vicky (Mike) Phillips of Chapin, South Carolina, Pat McCombs of Kansas City, Missouri, and Clifford (Denise) Ott of Ottumwa; six grandchildren, Jeff Phillips, Jill Phillips Gardner, Alex McCombs, Kate McCombs Baldwin, Justin Ott, and Bryan Ott; nine great grandchildren, Emily Gardner, Jacob Gardner, Andrew Baldwin, Kaylee Ott, Alex Ott, Elijah Ott, Leilani Ott, Malia Ott, and Arielle Ott; three step grandchildren; a sister in law, Peggy Klein of Oskaloosa; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Dena was preceded in death by her parents; a son-in-law, Duane McCombs; three brothers, Elmer Klein, Ivan Klein, and Brand “Sonny” Klein; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Hazel Klein, Ione Klein, James and Geraldine Ott, Mary Rose Davenport, and Margaret and Dean Mains. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at 1 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Pastor Alvern Boetsma officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. According to the rules put in place by the Iowa Department of Public Health, proper social distancing and reasonable personal protective equipment is advised for attending a religious public event. The funeral service will be live streamed at the funeral home’s YouTube Channel for those wishing to support the family from a distance. Visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday from 12 noon until service time at 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, 1716 Pella Avenue, Oskaloosa, Iowa 52577.