Dennis (Denny) Lynch was born on July 26, 1937, in Coffeyville, Kans., to Ben and Margurite Lynch.
He grew up in Oregon and then attended Colorado State University. He graduated with a BS in 1958 and was commissioned in the US Army. In 1959 he married Joyce Sheeley of Salida.
After the Army he became a forester on the Mt. Hood National Forest. In 1962 Denny transferred to the Roosevelt National Forest and while working there, he completed an MS in business. He was then transferred as district ranger to the Pikes Peak Ranger District on the Pike and San Isabel National Forest.
Following this he was assigned to the Colorado State Forest and completed a PhD. In 1974 he became a professor of Forest Sciences at CSU and loved teaching, advising, and mentoring students.
During this time he and Joyce founded the Christian Foresters Fellowship on the CSU campus which met weekly for 24 years and has affiliated groups across the nation and world. Denny’s times with students in the fall semester forestry classes at Pingree Park and with the Christian Foresters Fellowship meetings on campus and in his home are some of his fondest memories. He retired in 1998.
He was elected SAF Fellow and Golden Member and received the SAF Carl Schenck Award of Excellence in Teaching Forestry. He also received the Erick Nelson Award from Christian Leadership Ministries and other awards for teaching and service to students. He was a life member of the NRA, the American Legion, and the Council on Forest Engineering. Later Denny became a Gideon who loved to share the gospel.
Survivors include his best friend and wife, Joyce; children, Greg and his wife, Beth, and Kristy and her husband, Phil; grandchildren, David, Jonathan, Nathan, Matthew and Celeste, Shane and his wife, Kayston, Shannon; great-grandchildren, Daniella, Moriah & Benjamin, Payton, Clayton; a brother, Pat and his wife, Patty, and a sister, Lynda and her husband, Paul.
On November 17, he peacefully passed into the arms of Jesus.
A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 7, at Clearwater Church, 2700 S. Lemay Ave, Fort Collins, 80525.
