Denise ‘Dee’ LeTendre
January 15, 1952 - April 3, 2024
Denise “Dee” LeTendre
Beloved. By so many.
Wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, grandmother. Denise brought her quiet but unwavering love to all.
Denise passed away on April 3, 2024, age 72, her family at her side.
Born in Milwaukee to Pat and Helen Moore on January 15, 1952, Denise was a “surprise” - 10 years younger than her youngest sibling.
Denise met her husband, David, at Gilles Frozen Custard Stand in 1968. “She maybe didn’t notice me, but I noticed her,” David recalled. Sparks flew, and they became good old-fashioned high school sweethearts. Both attended Pius XI High School - David class of ‘68, Denise class of ‘70.
David asked her to homecoming. “Lucky for me, she said yes,” he said.
When David returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1971, Denise flew into his arms at the airport. They married on April 29, 1972.
Two children soon followed - Nadine and Jon David. Years of Denise’s cooking and laughter filled their home. She was quiet and kind but knew a good joke. For example, she often cut her brother-in-laws’ hair. She came up with a prank: she dipped a hand in water, faked a sneeze and flicked the water on the victim’s neck at the same time. Funny Denise!
Denise made great food. She loved to cook and she was good at it. Specialties included lasagna, meatballs and barbecue chicken wings. She appreciated a good steak and a great fish fry.
Denise made great hugs. When Denise hugged you, you stayed hugged.
Denise made great observations. For instance, she often told her beloved David, “David, you don’t know jack ...” Well, you get the idea.
Denise made great family. She leaves them with her love, and the knowledge that she is at peace.
We find comfort in the knowledge that she possessed a peaceful acceptance that we all leave this world when it is our time. She knew we are all just walking each other home.
Denise is survived by her beloveds: high school sweetheart, David; daughter, Nadine Clausing and her husband Joel, and their daughters Ashley, Sadie and Meghan; son, Jon David; and an army of heartbroken LeTendres, as well as other family and friends.
Preceded in death by her parents, sisters Kathleen Schwitters, Carol “Dolly” Korek, and brother Neil.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 26, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 208 E. Washington St., Slinger. Visitation will be held 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., with a funeral Mass at 2:30 p.m. A luncheon will follow in the church hall.
Memorials to the American Diabetes Association, , are suggested.
The Phillip Funeral Home is serving the family. For more information, call 262-338-2050 or visit .