Dennis (Dirty Denny) Hiner, age 87, passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 11th, two days before having to endure another season of Cleveland Browns football. He was dressed in his Evergreen Tavern t-shirt, surrounded by family as they spent his final hours recalling their many wonderful memories of him and the laughter/joy he brought every family gathering.
Denny was born in Ashland, OH, on Feb. 19, 1939, to the late Ethyle and Harold Hiner. A 1957 graduate of Ashland High School, he attended Ashland College before serving in the United States Air Force for four years. Denny lived his entire life in Ashland, working at N. Strauss & Son Clothing and Pierce’s Sporting Goods before retiring. He continually supported the community through service with the First United Methodist Church, the Evening Lions Club, and numerous other endeavors. At FUMC, especially, he impacted numerous lives as a beloved director and boating instructor for the annual youth church camp at Piedmont Lake.
Denny possessed a strong passion for sports and music, and could often be seen at Ashland High School and Ashland University games or at the Brookside Band Shell for their summer concert program. He also faithfully attended the numerous sporting and artistic events of his children and grandchildren. At home, he was content to drink a Heineken or his Lynchburg lemonade recipe while watching the birds. “The important thing,” he would always remind his loved ones, “is to remain calm.”
Denny is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Ruth Ann (Starkey) Hiner, originally of Geneva, OH; his children, Matthew (Amy) Hiner of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; Kirk (Tieraney) Hiner of Mogadore, OH; Brett (Kristi) Hiner of Wooster, OH; and Krista (Kenny) Williams of Green, OH; and his 11 grandchildren (Emily, Kage, Ben, Katie, Sophie, Olivia, Sam, Aiden, Addison, Max and Madeline) who loved him as much as he loved them.
He is also survived by his sister, Susie (Duane) Brown of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and his sisters-in-law Cathy Hiner of Ashland and Lois Stanton of Geneva, OH, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Denny was preceded in death by his brothers, Kenneth and Lawrence Hiner, and by numerous in-laws, friends, campers, and coworkers with whom he is already, again, sharing a beer and a laugh.
A service for Denny will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. with Vicar Derek Kubilus and Reverend’s Tom Snyder and Toni McKee presiding. The Ashland Veterans Honor Guard will conduct full military honors. Family and friends may visit two hours prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the church. A reception of remembrance will follow the service in Dauch Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First United Methodist Church in Ashland, OH.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com