Merle Dennis Harding. August 26, 1936 – August 9, 2021. Denny Harding made his first appearance in Beatrice, Nebraska, joining the family of Merle Thomas and Mary Marcella Schroeder Harding. Due to his early arrival, he spent several days in the hospital before travelling home in a shoe box to meet his brothers, Thomas Eugene and Robert Neil. Denny lived all his school days in Beatrice. He was correspondent for the Beatrice Sun, attending the 50th Boy Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge in 1950. Following in his brothers' footsteps, he worked at the local movie theater during high school, and according to local legend found much (harmless) mischief with his coworkers after hours. Harmless mischief and good humor were his craft in trade. He entertained nieces and nephews with adventures in purple mashed potatoes for dinner, making rubber spiders and scorpions, and… well, you get the idea. He was a man of dignity with a kind heart who had an enormous capacity for fun. Denny valued education, obtaining degrees culminating with an Ed.D. from the University of Nebraska in 1969. During this time, he also served from 1959 to 1965 in the United States Army Reserve. His career took him to Iowa City, where he met the love of his life, Susan Mary Anderson. They were married in a civil ceremony on July 6, 1976, in Chicago Heights, IL, and rode off into a lifetime of devotion in a yellow, two-seater convertible. The happy couple soon moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Denny was employed by Millard Public Schools until retiring as Supervisor of Student Services. He served as regional representative of the Phi Beta Kappa Society after retirement. Denny & Sue loved entertaining, miniature poodles, travel, and Nebraska football. In the wisdom of absence makes the heart grow fonder, Denny took an annual fishing trip to Canada with friends he cherished. He was a faithful Rotarian, earning more than a decade of consistent participation and support; he remained a member of the Elks until passing. Denny was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, sister-in-law Patricia Buck Harding, brother-in-law Chris Hedberg, and beloved wife Sue. He is survived by sisters-in-law Mary (Jon) Eddings, Margaret Harding, Nancy Hedberg, Sarah (Ed) Kulzer, and Alice (Tom) Mindrum; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. The family especially wishes to thank the care givers of Papillion Manor for making his last months so comfortable, and for always laughing at his jokes. Private services entrusted to the Nebraska Cremation Society, Wahoo, Nebraska. Graveside services to be held in Sugar Grove, IL, at a date to be determined. Memorials may be sent to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Youth Fishing Program, % Larry Pape, 2200 N 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE 68503