04/27/2026
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Dennis was a member of SCMC from September of 1990 till he retired from the club in April of 2007.
Please keep Charla and the family in your thoughts and prayers. Ride free Dennis.
🕊️Dennis Max Kepner, age 76, of Centerville, Iowa, passed away on April 20, 2026, at Oakwood Specialty Care in Albia, Iowa, after facing cancer with the same quiet determination that defined his life.
Dennis was born September 21, 1949, in Creston, Iowa, to Harold Max Kepner and Joy Adele (Ray) Kepner. His family lived in several Iowa communities during his childhood before settling in Centerville, where he graduated from Centerville High School in 1967.
After high school, Dennis attended Indian Hills Community College before enlisting in the United States Army on March 14, 1969.
He served three tours as an infantryman (11B) with the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile), known as the Screaming Eagles, in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971. His service included ground combat operations and repeated airmobile missions in hostile territory. Because of his physical size and reliability, he was often assigned to carry the platoon radio and the M60 machine gun, handling communications and providing covering fire during combat operations. His family is deeply proud of his service and grateful for the sacrifices he made during that time.
Dennis was awarded three Bronze Star Medals for sustained performance in a combat zone, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal for more than 25 aerial missions over hostile territory, and the Combat Infantryman Badge for direct participation in ground combat. He was honorably discharged in October 1971. His service reflected a strong duty to his country that remained with him throughout his life.
Dennis married Charla June Johnson on May 6, 1972. Together they raised a family and built a life grounded in commitment, dedication, and shared experience. He took pride in his children and their accomplishments, following their lives closely.
Following his military service, Dennis worked as a mechanic, machinist, and welder. He had a natural ability to understand how things worked and could diagnose problems quickly and accurately. He took pride in doing things the right way, paying close attention to detail and standing behind everything he built or repaired.
He was involved in the motorcycle community, serving as a founding member of the Guardians Motorcycle Club and later a member of the Second Chance Motorcycle Club. Riding the various Harleys he owned over the years was one of his favorite activities. He and Charla spent countless hours on the road together, creating lasting memories along the way. One moment he especially appreciated was coming around a bend on the bike and seeing Mount Rushmore appear in front of him—an experience that captured what those rides meant to him.
Dennis was also a member of the American Legion and the Appanoose County Shooting Club.
Dennis was very active in recovery communities, supporting others through Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. He approached sobriety with the same discipline and consistency that carried him through war and defined the rest of his life, giving his time and steady support to help others find their way forward.
In his personal time, Dennis enjoyed seeing his favorite bands in concert, hunting, fishing, reading, and completing puzzles with Charla. He was also a talented artist and an avid collector of books, tools, and vintage items. Dennis had a strong mechanical memory and an instinctive understanding of how things worked. He could recall the history, design, and evolution of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, fi****ms, and vintage muscle cars in detail, often down to specific models, years, and configurations.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Charla Kepner; his children, Dillon Kepner (Annette) of Des Moines, Brandon Kepner (Lisa) of Cedar Rapids, Haley Kincaid (Mike) of Cincinnati, and Dennis “Denny” Kepner (Sadie) of Des Moines; his grandchildren, Josie, Bronson, the late Jack, Payton, Alexis, Addy, Lulu, Avery, Max, Lathan, and Landry; and one great-grandchild, Mattias; his brothers, Bruce Kepner of Centerville, Greg Kepner (Gina) of Ottumwa, Tim Kepner (Sue) of Ottumwa, and Tom Kepner (Melissa) of Unionville, Missouri, his sister-in-law, Claudia McCarthy (John) of Cincinnati, and brothers-in-law, Rick Johnson (Jill) of Plato, Missouri, and Rob Johnson (Susan) of Unionville, Missouri, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Joy Kepner, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Junior and Joethea Johnson and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Linn Johnson.
A visitation will be held at Sinnott Funeral Home in Albia, Iowa, on Friday, May 29, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A memorial service with full military honors will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Sinnott Funeral Home followed by burial at Haines Cemetery in Centerville, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Folds of Honor (https://www.foldsofhonor.org), and any contributions given directly to the family will also be donated to the organization.
In honor of Dennis' life, we invite friends and loved ones to share their memories and upload photos to his memorial page. As we remember Dennis let us celebrate the love, joy, and passion he brought into our lives and cherish the memories he left behind.🕊️
https://sinnottfuneralhome.com/obituaries/dennis-kepner
