Dennis J. Higgins

Dennis James Higgins, 60, of Pender, NE passed away at his home on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.  The memorial visitation will be on Thursday, October 12, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Pender, with a prayer service starting at 7:00 p.m. The memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, October 13, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Pender.  Inurnment will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Pender, NE.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender.  

Dennis was born on September 5, 1963, in Denison, Iowa, the son of John and Pat (Buck) Higgins.  He grew up in Pender and graduated from Pender Public High School as class Valedictorian (well…he should have been).  After losing his Husker Football scholarship due to a knee injury, he attended Western Iowa Tech.  Contrary to popular belief, he was the first college graduate in the family. 

Dennis worked for Buchholz Building, Triple C Products, and for the last several years he was a carrier for the Omaha World Herald.  He loved all the people he worked with but especially loved the relationships he had with his World Herald customers.  Dennis also served a short stint as a volunteer fireman, saving the town of Pender by extinguishing the roaring fire of a Pendragon.  We are all forever in his debt. 

Dennis loved the Yankees, Cornhuskers, playing cards, and “racing” around town.  He also enjoyed being a preschool Driver’s Ed instructor for all his dirty bird nephews and creepy crawler nieces.    

Everyone has a “Den” story.  Now is the time to share them. 

Dennis is survived by everyone who is still alive.  Some of those people include, sisters, Shelley (Matt) Buchholz, and Karin (Joe) Noakes; brothers, James Higgins and Tim Higgins; nieces, Michaela (Kyle) Schellpeper, Morgan (Brett) Kroger, and Shelbi Higgins; nephews, Jackson Noakes, Benjamin Noakes, and Carter Noakes. 

Ol’ Shep was a good old dog.  Now everybody “bunch up and spread out”.