Dennis "Denny" Duane Hess

Dennis Duane Hess, 79, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Majestic Care of New Haven. Denny was born on January 20, 1947, to the late Roma A. and Murriel M. (Saunders) Hess in Auburn, Indiana. He was a 1965 graduate of Auburn High School, where he excelled in baseball, and served in the United States Army in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. For over 30 years, he worked as a security guard in Fort Wayne. On September 5, 2014, Denny married Karen Claymiller in Fort Wayne.

Denny was an avid sports enthusiast and an Indiana University fan. He kept track of every I.U. statistic in basketball and baseball every season; he never missed a single game on TV. Coming from Auburn, the home of the A-C-D Museum, he also loved antique cars, especially Auburns, Cords, and Duesenbergs. Denny also loved food; at family get-togethers he was known to try every dish.

Denny is survived by:

Spouse, Karen Hess of Fort Wayne; daughter, Jackie Fox of Fort Wayne; two grandchildren; brother, Ronald R. Hess of Kendallville; sister, Marilyn (Robert) Delagrange of Carmel, Indiana; brother-in-law, Robert Claymiller, Jr. of Nebraska; sister-in-law, Kathy Herder of Utah; six nieces and five nephews; and numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.

Preceding Denny in death were his parents; brother, Larry L. Hess; sister-in-law, Judy Hess; sister-in-law, Sharon Whitehurst; and a brother-in-law, Eugene Davis.

A visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Hess Funeral Home, 7633 Maplecrest Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Immediately following the visitation, a funeral service will be conducted at 1:00pm by Father David Ruppert at Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Interment will take place following the funeral service at Auburn Catholic Cemetery in Auburn, Indiana.

Care entrusted to Hess Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Fort Wayne, 7633 Maplecrest Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana.