Charles Denny Stienecker

August 20, 1936 - December 17, 2021

Dr. Charles Denny Stienecker, M.D., 85, passed away on Friday, December 17, 2021 of a ruptured aneurysm.

Denny was preceded in death by Mary Winget Stienecker (mother) and Roger Stienecker (father) and Sherry Meadows (sister).

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Nancy Jo Teegardin of Charlotte, North Carolina and Lima, Ohio; sons Scott Stienecker MD (Rhonda) of Rome City, Indiana and Andrew Stienecker (Kelly) of Matthews, North Carolina and daughters Shelley Mulconrey (Neal) of Beverly Shores, Indiana and Merilee Wale (John) of Lima, Ohio; grandsons Kyle Stienecker (Dakota)of North Myrtle Beach South Carolina, Ritchie Eddy of Columbus, Ohio, Zachary Ziccardi and Jacob Ziccardi of Lima, Ohio and Nate Stienecker of Matthews, North Carolina and granddaughters Sara Stienecker (Grant Gibson) of Findlay, Ohio and Annie Stienecker of Matthews, North Carolina. Also surviving are brothers-in-law Eddie Teegardin of Hilliard, Ohio and Carroll Meadows of West Liberty, Ohio, niece Erin Smith of Tempe, Arizona and nephews Eric Smith (Allison, and four daughters) of Lewis Center, Ohio, Doug Butler (Kellie and a son and daughter) of Ashville, Ohio and Thomas Butler (and two daughters) of Mahwah, New Jersey.

Denny graduated from Delphos Jefferson High School in 1954 where he was the drum major and trumpet player in the marching band. He earned his BS and MD at The Ohio State University. He was a member of The Ohio State University Marching Band, E-flat cornet, from 1954 through 1958 during which he marched in two Rose Bowls in 1955 and 1958. He was also in ROTC at Ohio State. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force SAC at Lincoln Air Force Base, Lincoln, Nebraska, from July 1963 to July 1965 during which he was Chief of Outpatient Services, and he received the Strategic Air Command Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Performance of Duty in 1965. Following his release from the Air Force, he entered into private medical practice in Wapakoneta, Ohio in 1963 until 1994 and achieved Fellow with the American Academy of Family Practice. He served as the Assistant Coroner for Auglaize County from 1984-1994. He was Chief of Staff and on the Board of Trustees at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima, Ohio from 1980 to 1994 where he served on the Executive Committee Board for 4 years. In 1994 he joined St. Rita's Medical Center as Vice President of Medical Affairs & Medical Director until his retirement in 2000. Additionally, he was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at Medical College of Ohio 1982-1989. He also served on the Ohio State Medical Board from 1992 through 2002 and held the position of President of the Board in 1996.

As a family physician he touched the lives of tens of thousands of patients. He practiced medicine with the highest integrity and treated his patients with dignity often going above and beyond expected care. Over his career he taught dozens of medical students as they rotated through their family practice education.

He had numerous interests, was a lifelong student of history, and was an avid collector of antiques. He restored a 1929 MG model M and a 1954 MG TF, raced his Interlake sailboat on Indian Lake in Ohio, and built motorized model airplanes, furniture and musical instruments. He owned and managed his own Christmas Tree farm in Auglaize County. He participated in The Ohio State Marching Band Alumni performances for a number of years in the 1980s-1990s. He loved to host and cook gourmet meals and he entertained us all with his many stories and escapades. His was a life well lived and he will be missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of Life gathering is tentatively planned for spring 2022 along with internment at the family plot at Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Denny's family has requested no flowers but rather donations be made in his memory to Mercy Health Foundation of Greater Lima (please designate your donation to Greatest Need fund) or the Ohio State Marching Band.

Mail: Mercy Health Foundation Greater Lima, 730 W Market St, Lima, OH 45801

Mail: Marching Band Fund (302589), The Ohio State University Foundation, PO Box 710811, Columbus, OH 43271-0811

Denny was a member of the marching band from 1954 through 1957. He played Efer in X-Row.