Paul Nicholas Denner

Paul Nicholas Denner, known simply as Nick to most, died peacefully on November 14, 2024. He was known as a fun, energetic man who never met a stranger and who would light up a room, bringing a smile to everyone’s face.

Nick was born in Alva, Oklahoma on January 14, 1940, the youngest of four children. His father, Joe Denner, was the proprietor of the Golden Krust Bakery and his mother, Mary (Heizer) Denner was a homemaker and mother. He graduated from Alva High School in 1958 then attended the University of Oklahoma where he played basketball, was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and also served in the ROTC as the commander of the 375th AFROTC Cadet Wing, receiving the award for the most outstanding ROTC cadet in 1963. After college, he served in the United States Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer from 1963 to 1969 rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Nick was known as a traveler, voyager and an explorer, constantly seeking new adventures and challenges. He owned and operated Denner World Travel where he lived, worked and traveled all over the world in places like Holland, Kenya, India and Hong Kong. It was in Hong Kong that he met and eventually married his former spouse, Chuan Liu. They settled in Oklahoma City and had their son, Tai Denner.

He later settled in the Austin, Texas area with his former spouse, Deborah Denner Levitt, son Tai, and daughters; Juliet Denner, Mega Stewart-Alvarez and Carolyn Price. At Lick Creek, the family built a home as special as the family with the first ever rain water collection tank in the county. They were surrounded by love, joy, singing, ping pong, and many outdoor adventures on their acreage in the Texas Hill Country.

After all of his children had graduated and moved away from home, he had a calling to live in the mountains and moved to Asheville, North Carolina where he explored the Blue Ridge Mountains and developed many great friendships. In his last years, he moved back to Austin to be closer to family, especially his grandchildren, who lovingly referred to him as Pa Nick.

Nick is survived by his children, Tai (Valerie) Denner, Juliet Denner, Mega Stewart-Alvarez and Carolyn Price; grandchildren, Lillie and Slade Denner, and Madalyn, Sophia and Caleb Greenwood-Price; nephews, Joseph, John, David, Mark, Matt, Christopher and Jon; nieces, Amy, Marcia, Theresa, Michelle and Shannon; extended family, Lydia Denner and Mike McGowan; former spouses Chuan Liu and Deborah Denner Levitt; and many more cousins and great friends who were as close as family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mary Denner; his brothers, Lee and Tom Denner; sister, Nancy McGowan, sister-in-law, Nancy Evelyn Denner, and niece, Emily Denner.

Please join us in celebrating his life on December 8, 2024, 11am at Weed Corley Fish Lakeway, 411 Ranch Rd 620 S, Lakeway, TX 78734. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you give someone a high-five.

The family would like to thank the staff at Baylor Scott & White Lakeway and Park Manor Bee Cave for their support and kindness.

Today and forever he flies free.