Doyle E. Denney, 70, of Grand Island died on Monday, August 24, 2015.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, at the Evangelical Free Church in Grand Island.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28 at the Evangelical Free Church. Rev. Paul Canady will officiate. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Pella Reformed Church Cemetery in Adams, NE. All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island is serving the family.
Doyle was born on April 28, 1945 in Onawa, IA, son of Floyd and Ida (Martin) Denney.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Melanie; sons, Dr. Sean (Lindsey) Denney of Kearney, Seth (Melissa) Denney of Minden, and Ty (Chris) Denney of rural Douglas; brother, Otis (Shirley) Denney of Onawa, IA; sisters , Marlene ( Dick) Ping of Onawa, IA, and Sharon (CJ) Harris of Springfield, NE.
Those also left to cherish his memory include his grandchildren, Jenna, Joshua, Josie, Weston, Cassidy, Evan, Bryce, Hadley, Kellen, Caitlyn, and Delaney; mother-in-law, Marjorie Nieveen of Panama, NE; brother-in-law, Roger (Shirleen) Nieveen of Bellwood; sister-in-law, Kay (Don) Softley of Grant; along with several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Doyle is preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Vern (Mardell) Denney; and father-in-law, Melvin Nieveen.
While attending Wayne State College he met Melanie Nieveen; and they were united in marriage on April 21, 1967. Following their marriage, Doyle began coaching high school boys’ basketball and other sports. Later on he was hired as a head basketball coach at Wilber Clatonia, Waho Neumann, Ord, Grant, Lincoln Christian and McCook. Beginning in 1990, he was employed as a principal for several locations, most recently North West High School, until his retirement in 2010.
Doyle loved to share his faith. He and Melanie were active in starting Fellowship of Christian Athlete huddles in many of the high schools he worked and they were active in Bible studies. He most recently was the FCA Coaches Ministry Director for Nebraska and he and Melanie were Teammates Mentors. Both were members of the Evangelical Free Church in Grand Island.
He and Melanie were a team, doing nearly everything together. Spending time with his family was very important, whether coaching them in a variety of sports or working together while painting houses in the summer. In recent years, Doyle’s grandchildren meant the world to him.
Memorials are suggested to Fellowship of Christian Athletes or to Compassion International.