Dennis A. Korgel, 65, of Grand Island, NE, died Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Tiffany Square Care Center. Dennis' wish was to be cremated. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, March 11, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo's Catholic Church. The Rev. Donald A. Buhrman will be the celebrant. Visitation will be Thursday, March 10, 2022, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Curran Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will be at a later date in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for designation at a later date. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family. Dennis was born July 4, 1956, in Minot, ND. He was the son of Harold and Vivian (Edwardson) Korgel. Dennis' family moved to Grand Island, NE from Minot, ND during his 3rd grade year. He then attended Howard Elementary, Walnut Junior High, and graduated from Grand Island Senior High (GISH) in 1974. Dennis began dating his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Becker, while attending GISH as Junior and Sophomore respectively, officially with a date to the dance April 25, 1972. Nearly 50 years (half century) together. Dennis graduated from Kearney State College (1974-1978) with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Physical Education and continued his education earning his Master's Degree in Adaptive & Remedial Physical Education (1982). Dennis married Marilyn on May 26, 1978 at St. Leo's Catholic Church in Grand Island, NE. 43 years, just short of 44 years of marriage. Dennis was employed by Grand Island Public School through the entirety of his career: entering for the 78/79 school year through retirement at the conclusion of the 16/17 school year (39 years in total.) Specifically, remaining at Gates Elementary for all 39 years. During his career Dennis was a NSAA official throughout 38 years specifically varsity football as well as boys and girls basketball. Additionally, he officiated NSAA soccer for a time as well as years of timing track and swimming events for GISH, GICC and GINW. Dennis also worked the "corn fields" as a crop inspector first for Northrup King and then Nebraska Crop Improvement (NC+) for a total of 35 summers. Dennis enjoyed among many things: cooking (known as Pelican Papa), gardening, making horseradish, throwing horseshoes, camping (years of tenting before becoming a "camper" camper), hunting upland game, fishing, bird watching, officiating high school sports, being "Papa" for and spending time with his granddaughters Anslee and Finlee, managing fantasy football, basketball and baseball teams (often dozens at a time) as well as spending time with Mars' daycare children. Dennis ran 4 full marathons (2 in Lincoln, NE - 2 in Duluth MN) as well as numerous halves, 10ks and 5ks. August 21, 2017 (also known as the day of the "Great American Eclipse"), just a few short months removed from retirement, Dennis and Marilyn were hit with the life altering diagnosis for Dennis of Parkinson's Disease. This required a complete shift in mindset for them as they entered the "Golden Years" from what they had imagined. As Dennis later, jokingly, commented that it was His (God) way of slowing him (Denny) down since he lived his life in such a fast-paced "go go go" fashion (as you can see from the life he lived above). Dennis was part of a "Rock Steady" boxing therapy team as part of helping him fight the Parkinson's. For a time, Dennis attended morning "Brothers in Christ" sessions for fellowship and scripture. Dennis was a former member of the Platt-Duetsche and current member of the Saddle Club. Dennis often said that he had to just accept what he had been given and fight through it. He lived this mentality all of his life both pre- and post- Parkinson's in all things he did. He will be missed by his wife, Marilyn, 2 sons Sean Korgel of Kearney, NE and Eric Korgel of Omaha, NE. 2 granddaughters Anslee (10) and Finlee Korgel (7) of Kearney, NE and their mother Kelly, Kearney, NE Mother: Vivian Korgel, Grand Island, NE Siblings: Denise (Gerry) Hanson, Lincoln, NE, Deanne Splattstoesser (Newell Decker), Hickman, NE Dean (Melody) Korgel, Grand Island, NE Doreen (Brian) Grupe, Grand Island, NE David (Tricia) Korgel, Omaha, NE Mother-in-law: Beverly Becker, Grand Island, NE Brother-in-law: Rick (Julie) Becker, Lincoln, NE Sister-in-law: Diana Webster, Scottsdale, AZ He was preceded in death by his father, Harold Korgel and father-in-law, Richard Becker. Visitation Curran Funeral Chapel Thursday, March 10, 2022 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 3005 South Locust Street Grand Island, Nebraska 68801 Mass of Christian Burial St. Leo's Catholic Church Friday, March 11, 2022 10:30 AM 2410 South Blaine Grand Island, Nebraska 68803