If you would like to have your memory or story about Denise shared at her celebration of life service, please send those messages to gdennington@gmail.com .

Denise Dennington-Calkins passed away on June 4, 2022, at her home in Sterling as a result of an unforeseeable and tragic accident. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Bank of Colorado Event Center at NJC on June 20, 2022, at 10:30 AM.

Denise was born in Denver, Colorado on March 20, 1989, to Gregg and LeeAnn Dennington.

She attended Sterling elementary, middle school and graduated from Sterling High School. She attended UNC and earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism. She continued on at UNC and received a master's degree in Sports Administration. In 2014, she began working at NJC as the Assistant Athletic Director and while there created the Student Athletic Council, an organization she took great pride in.

Denise was a staunch supporter of student mental health. She worked with Centennial Mental Health on workshops and counseled and mentored a number of students.

Denise was always a big sports fan and loved participating in High School basketball and softball. She played on intramural teams in college. She won the State Rockies Skill Challenge at Coors Field twice, once at age 6 and again at age 12. She loved to play golf and do water sports. Denise was a huge fan of OU women's softball and loved anything "Harry Potter".

On April 17, 2020, she and Wallace "Acie" Calkins were married in her parents backyard following strict covid restrictions. They were married again on August 10, 2020, in their "dream wedding".

Denise is survived by her husband Wallace "Acie" Calkins and parents Gregg and LeeAnn Dennington. Also surviving are her brother Derek and sister-in-law Shannon Dennington and their children Dillon and Aubrey; grandmother Maxine Dennington; uncle Kirk (Diane) Johnson; aunt Brenda (Ted) Desormeaux; uncle Kent Dennington; father-in-law Jim (Tammy) Flesner; mother-in-law Sheryl Calkins; sister-in-law Jimi (Trevor, Spencer) Miller; sister-in-law Sierra (Jeremy, Bubba) Hedstrom; several special cousins; special friends Brenda Johnson-Weems and Michelle Stultz; and her two beloved dogs Ethel and Lucy.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Kenneth and Lillian Johnson, grandfather Donald Dennington, and her beloved cat Goobie.

Contributions may be made in Denise's memory to NJC Athletics in c/o Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1046, Sterling, CO 80751.