Dennis Kirlin
September 13, 1932 - June 25, 2020
Welcome to a tribute site for an amazing individual who touched many lives in the Omaha / Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Dennis Kirlin had been a staple in the local IT community for decades. For many years, he headed the computer programming technology department at Iowa Western Community College.
This site houses a collection of stories from friends, students, and colleagues.
Stories
"Mr. Kirlin was absolutely one of the best ever in the education field. Way back in 1986, he was responsible for overseeing our final computer projects. He was very flexible, and really encouraged us to be 'creative', allowing us to use whatever computer platform / system was available to us. I was actually able to complete my final project on my own TRS-80 Color Computer, written in BASIC. As I recall, it was a 'name lookup' application that generated a phonetic code to find similar names in case the user did not know the exact spelling. Mr. Kirlin seemed genuinely delighted with the result. He was always encouraging and inspiring his students, which is something that carries far beyond the moment. I can't say I've ever encountered another educator with his gifts. Thank you Mr. K for a lifetime of continued learning and growing!"
-- Tracy Joneson
***
" 'This is not a job. It is a profession.'
When I heard the sad news of Mr. Kirlin's passing, it truly took the wind from my sails. Mr. Kirlin was everpresent in my life and career since first meeting him in 1980 at IWCC. After choosing to end my 10+ year career at a large Omaha area bank, I decided to pursue another interest of mine - computer programming. He taught me; he guided me, and he mentored me. While I was attending school, Mr. Kirlin engineered a way I could work there at nights and weekends as a computer operator as at this point in life I was self-supporting and needed the income. Upon my graduation from IWCC, I had the good fortune of working for Mr. Kirlin as an adjunct faculty member for several years.
Knowing Mr. Kirlin, I highly doubt my story of his support and mentorship is unique among his students. If it were not for Mr. Kirlin, I would not have met Margaret my wife; have a wonderful daughter and son-in-law, and as the story goes the rest is history. Mr. Kirlin's passing leaves a huge hole in the technology fabric of the midwest and I doubt it will be patched. It is true and fitting that a scholarship is developed in his honor at IWCC. I can think of nothing better to support and keep his memory fresh into the future. Mr. Kirlin was a singular positive force in many, many people's lives. He was the consummate gentleman and professional; he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace ..."
-- Randy Carson, C2C Consulting, LLC
***
"Mr. Kirlin, in my life, truly exemplifies the title of a legend. A family friend, he guided me into the IT field when I was still in high school, he was an awesome head of the data processing program at IWCC where Randy and I met, and most recently, was an ever-present friend and deacon to my parents when they were in their final years and at their funerals. Randy, Jim Lawless, and I were honored to spend time with Mr. Kirlin's wife, children and their spouses, and his grandchildren on the Zoom tribute call held today in his honor. Mr. Kirlin, may you rest in peace and enjoy the triumphant welcome into the heavenly gates for a life well-lived."
-- Margaret Carson, C2C Consulting, LLC
***
"Wonderful teacher who was the heart of the IWCC computer program. I was just telling some of my colleagues not long ago how he came into class wearing a wig to role play the different phases of the project lifecycle. He had the entire class rolling! He had a true gift of teaching from the heart."
-- Marilyn Coleman, Enterprise Application Analyst
***
"My memories of Denny is he was a kind soul to everyone!! His Wife Pat is a client of my salon and we all wanted a husband like Denny!! Opened her car door chivalrous man ❤"
-- Rhonda Coggins-Harrison
and all the girls at The Hair Company
***
"He was a great man. Made the IWCC program great. Was always there to answer questions. Knowledgeable in all aspects of IT and was always refining the program to keep it relevant. He is one of the reasons why I love programming and have excelled in the field."
-- Michael Hansen, Software developer
***
September 13, 1932 - June 25, 2020
This site houses a collection of stories from friends, students, and colleagues.
Stories
"Mr. Kirlin was absolutely one of the best ever in the education field. Way back in 1986, he was responsible for overseeing our final computer projects. He was very flexible, and really encouraged us to be 'creative', allowing us to use whatever computer platform / system was available to us. I was actually able to complete my final project on my own TRS-80 Color Computer, written in BASIC. As I recall, it was a 'name lookup' application that generated a phonetic code to find similar names in case the user did not know the exact spelling. Mr. Kirlin seemed genuinely delighted with the result. He was always encouraging and inspiring his students, which is something that carries far beyond the moment. I can't say I've ever encountered another educator with his gifts. Thank you Mr. K for a lifetime of continued learning and growing!"
-- Tracy Joneson
" 'This is not a job. It is a profession.'
When I heard the sad news of Mr. Kirlin's passing, it truly took the wind from my sails. Mr. Kirlin was everpresent in my life and career since first meeting him in 1980 at IWCC. After choosing to end my 10+ year career at a large Omaha area bank, I decided to pursue another interest of mine - computer programming. He taught me; he guided me, and he mentored me. While I was attending school, Mr. Kirlin engineered a way I could work there at nights and weekends as a computer operator as at this point in life I was self-supporting and needed the income. Upon my graduation from IWCC, I had the good fortune of working for Mr. Kirlin as an adjunct faculty member for several years.
Knowing Mr. Kirlin, I highly doubt my story of his support and mentorship is unique among his students. If it were not for Mr. Kirlin, I would not have met Margaret my wife; have a wonderful daughter and son-in-law, and as the story goes the rest is history. Mr. Kirlin's passing leaves a huge hole in the technology fabric of the midwest and I doubt it will be patched. It is true and fitting that a scholarship is developed in his honor at IWCC. I can think of nothing better to support and keep his memory fresh into the future. Mr. Kirlin was a singular positive force in many, many people's lives. He was the consummate gentleman and professional; he will be greatly missed. Rest in peace ..."
-- Randy Carson, C2C Consulting, LLC
"Mr. Kirlin, in my life, truly exemplifies the title of a legend. A family friend, he guided me into the IT field when I was still in high school, he was an awesome head of the data processing program at IWCC where Randy and I met, and most recently, was an ever-present friend and deacon to my parents when they were in their final years and at their funerals. Randy, Jim Lawless, and I were honored to spend time with Mr. Kirlin's wife, children and their spouses, and his grandchildren on the Zoom tribute call held today in his honor. Mr. Kirlin, may you rest in peace and enjoy the triumphant welcome into the heavenly gates for a life well-lived."
-- Margaret Carson, C2C Consulting, LLC
"Wonderful teacher who was the heart of the IWCC computer program. I was just telling some of my colleagues not long ago how he came into class wearing a wig to role play the different phases of the project lifecycle. He had the entire class rolling! He had a true gift of teaching from the heart."
-- Marilyn Coleman, Enterprise Application Analyst
"My memories of Denny is he was a kind soul to everyone!! His Wife Pat is a client of my salon and we all wanted a husband like Denny!! Opened her car door chivalrous man ❤"
-- Rhonda Coggins-Harrison
and all the girls at The Hair Company
"He was a great man. Made the IWCC program great. Was always there to answer questions. Knowledgeable in all aspects of IT and was always refining the program to keep it relevant. He is one of the reasons why I love programming and have excelled in the field."
-- Michael Hansen, Software developer