Dennis “Army” Armstrong, 76

Dennis “Army” Armstrong, 76, of Toledo, Iowa, passed away on the morning of Saturday, September 16, 2023, at UnityPoint Health Grinnell Regional Medical Center with his wife at his side.

A family-led celebration of life for Dennis will take place on October 21, 2023, at the Reinig Center in Toledo from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. and he will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama, Iowa, at a later date. Memorials in Army’s name may be directed to his family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Dennis was born July 31, 1947, in Tama, Iowa. He was born to George and Leona (Frye) Armstrong. He attended school in the South Tama district and was drafted into the United States Armed Forces in 1966 where he served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War Era and was stationed in Germany until his honorable discharge in 1968.

Dennis was united in marriage to the love of his life, Barbara Hill, on December 21, 1968. Together made their home in Tama, Iowa, where they raised their two children, Heather and Dennis Armstrong II.

He held many jobs and careers over the years, working at the Tama Paper Mill before his time in the Army and again upon his return. He also worked for Cessford Concrete and operated two small businesses with two of his brothers. He dedicated 33 years to Fisher Controls in Marshalltown before retiring in 2002.

After his retirement, he worked part-time at Walmart followed by working as a school janitor for Tama School District. In 2007, he and his wife relocated to Lubbock, Texas, where Dennis continued working in a job he loved as a janitor for the Frenship School District in Lubbard, Texas. They returned to Iowa in 2014 and have since called Toledo home.

He was a member of the UAW Local 893. In prior years, he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge 2828 and the American Legion. In his free time, family was the top priority. He loved music and passed that on to his children. He took part as a coach in youth bowling and was a part of adult leagues. He enjoyed his times on the lake casting his pole and traveling with his family and wife, Barb. Dennis enjoyed the classics; he often watched many classic movies and admired old muscle cars. In the simple ways, he took pride in his yard care, spent time with friends and was always looked up to as a father figure to his children’s friends and for those he coached.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara Armstrong, of Toledo, Iowa; his children: Heather (Josh Todd) Armstrong, of Tama, Iowa, and Dennis (Ashley Alman) Armstrong II, of Marshalltown, Iowa; his grandchildren: BreAnna Streets and Orion Armstrong; his siblings: Carole Knoll, of Tama, Iowa, Elizabeth “Liz” (Leonard) Untiedt, of Garwin, Iowa, George “Doc” (Gwen) Armstrong, of Lubbock, Texas; his sisters-in-law: Lynn Armstrong and Connie Armstrong; fur-baby Zeke and grand-puppy Zuri and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Leona Armstrong; His siblings: Aloha “Jeanne” Herberger, Robert “Bob” Armstrong and Richard “Rick” Armstrong; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ralph and AlDora “Dorie” (Brown) Hill; his fur-baby Zoie and grand-puppy Zeppelin.