Denny Ebb Mather, the son of Paul and Helen (Stephens) Mather, was born September 17, 1939 at the family home on Peckville Ranch, five miles from Westboro, Missouri. He passed away in Hinterzarten/Schwarzwald, Germany on March 16, 2007 at the age of 67.

Denny graduated from Tarkio High School in 1957, and attended Tarkio College, both in Tarkio, Missouri and Northwest Missouri State College, Maryville, Missouri before joining the United States Air Force in 1962. After leaving the Air Force, Denny continued his education, receiving a BS in Education in 1968 and a MS of Education in 1970 from Northwest Missouri State College. He taught at Albany, Missouri from 1968 to 1972. He then returned to Germany and taught in the American Dependants school system at Hahn Air Force Base, Germany from 1972 until it closed in 1993. Denny taught at the Army American Dependants school system at Bad Kreuznach, Germany until his retirement in 1997.

Denny was united in marriage to Erika (nee Koch) on March 2, 1964 while stationed at the United States Air Force Base at Kassel, Germany. They had one daughter, Jo Ann, who was born at Scott Air Force Base in Alton, Illinois, on August 7, 1965. Jo Ann and her husband, Udo Fellenzer live in the village of Buchenbeuren, Germany, two miles from Denny and Erika’s home.

Denny and Erika regularly welcomed friends and family into the home they built in Lautzenhausen. Denny loved Germany and spoke the language like a native. He also loved coming home to the States to see his family and friends. Denny would sing one line of a song over and over, not very musically. That line was, “Take these chains from my heart and set me free.” He is surely now free of his pain and illness, and happy in the presence of those who have gone before. It has often been said that Denny did not have a mean bone in his body, which was true. But he fought a courageous battle to live through heart disease and cancer.

He is survived by his wife Erika Mather (nee Kock), Lautzenhausen, Germany; one daughter Jo Ann Fellenzer and husband Udo, Buchenburen, Germany; one brother P. Boyd Mather and wife Darlene, Des Moines, Iowa: one sister Mary Mather and husband Philip David Tully, Huntsville, Alabama; nephews Steven Mather, Des Moines, Iowa and David Mather, Minneapolis, Minnesota., Will Tully, Houston, Texas; numerous cousins; and two aunts whom he dearly loved.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Helen Mather and his brother Larry Mather. His burial was in Lautzenhausen, Germany, with Erika, Jo Ann, Udo, his much loved cousin Marilyn Smith Dewey and his sister Mary present.

Denny greatly loved life and his family and friends.

Mary would like to invite Denny’s many friends and family to a celebration of his life at 3:00 pm. on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Tarkio.
The family will receive friends following the memorial service in the church fellowship hall.