08/02/2022
Dennis Lee Kingery, 79, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2022, at the VA Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. Dennis was born on December 5, 1942, in Knoxville, Iowa to Earnest D. and Marian (Currier) Kingery.
Dennis graduated from Knoxville High School in 1961. He attended Iowa State University and Northwest Missouri State University each for one year before enlisting in the United States Army where he served as a morse code operator from 1963 to 1967. Upon separating from the service, Dennis settled in Virginia and worked for the Tandy Leather Factory in Washington, D.C. for six years.
Dennis eventually returned to Iowa where he owned and operated a tavern in Monroe for many years. While hunting for mushrooms in Iowa, Dennis discovered a fossil by accident and became intrigued.
In 1979 he decided to pursue his fossil interests full-time, relocating to Rock Springs, Wyoming where he opened a small fossil business, Den’s Petrified Critters, which he maintained until his retirement. Dennis enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow fossil enthusiasts from all over the world.
Dennis retired to Tucson, Arizona in 2003 where he enjoyed spending time with the late Al Janesky, Al’s wife Jackie, and their family who became like family to Dennis, including Tracy and Jim Tishion, Cindy and Jim Purvinis, Chris and Taryn Purvinis all of Tucson and Jason and Heather Janesky of Campbell, CA. 
In retirement Dennis enjoyed crafting, reading, doing puzzles, and photography.
Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald, and sister Donna (Kingery) Karr. Dennis is survived by his brother Frank Kingery and wife Vicky of Monroe, Iowa, and many nephews and nieces.
A memorial service for family and friends will be arranged at a later date. Mr. Kingery directed his body be donated to science.