Herman Dinges, 90, of Denver, passed away on February 12, 2020 at home, with family by his side. If you knew Herman, you know how much he loved to entertain, and how proud he was of the life he built alongside his wife, Lauraine.
Herman was born on September 21, 1929, to a family of 13 children on a farm near Schoenchen, Kansas, where he was inspired to teach himself how to play music.
After serving in the Army in the Korean War, he married his teenage sweetheart from the nearby city of Hays, moved to Denver, started a career with Samsonite, and raised two children. He also started The Herman Dinges Polka and Variety Band, playing saxophone and accordion, while his wife played piano and sang. He and his band played polka around the country and world, including on the Lawrence Welk Show, Frankie Yankovic's show, the Colorado Polka Days, and Oktoberfest in Denver's Larimer Square.
Herman was also famous for his Christmas lights at his home on Zenobia Street in Denver, that grew bigger and bigger over 50 years. He and his wife dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus to hand out candy to children and collect donations for the Children's Hospital.
Herman was a proud member of the Military Honor Guard, VFW, American Legion and Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his siblings Lee and Dorothy, his children, Darrell and Judy, his grandchildren and their spouses Amber and Dustin, Kyle and Brittany, Audrey and Alex, Ava and Kevin, and Sheila and Luis, eight great-grandchildren, and his most recent bandmates Dolores, Dale and Dan. He is preceded in death by his wife Lauraine, and 10 siblings.
A viewing will be held on Monday, February 24, 5-7 pm at Advantage Runyan-Stevenson, 6425 W. Alameda Ave., Lakewood, CO 80226.
The funeral mass and reception will be on Tuesday, February 25, 11 am at St. Jude Catholic Church, 9405 W. Florida Ave., Lakewood, CO 80232.
His interment will take place at a later date at St. Joseph Cemetery in Hays.