Marianne
Denny was a dear friend and an excellent professor.  He helped establish my love for history.  He was always supportive and generous with his time.
Dr. Showalter was the best.

Professor Showalter was my favorite instructor at the Air Force Academy.  Two stories will illustrate why.

When I took his Vietnam War class, he was wont to begin his lectures not by receiving the salute of a classmate who’d called us to attention but by leaping up to sit cross-legged atop his desk as he took up his topic.  Political correctness was just becoming rampant and one of my classmates attempted to earn points br criticizing the French missionaries in Vietnam who were attempting to stop the spread of cholera as a regrettable aspect of colonial oppression.  He was mystified for a moment, then simply remarked, “Most parents would like their children to live beyond the age of two” and moved on.

When the time came for his WWII course final exam, he dismissed us from the room, told us to take the exam wherever we liked but to have it turned in by a firm deadline, and ended by saying, “What good is an Honor Code you never get to use?”  He was right, of course, but then he always was.  

Professor Showalter was  one-of-a-kind and never to be forgotten.  Kind, generous, open-minded, and yet always charging forward toward the truth like his beloved Marshal Blucher.  I bet he’s getting the real skinny from the grognards now.  Rest in peace, Professor.  Class dismissed.  

He was my professor at the Air Force Academy in the Spring of '93.  The class was "History of the Vietnam War."  I earned a "B" but I suspect his grace was a significant factor.  Incidentally, my son is a Johnnie, class of '21.  Congratulations to Dr. Showalter on a rich, well-lived life that touched so many.  May he rest in peace.

Excellent Professor! 

I am a big fan of Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II and I ended up having a lot of conversations with Professors Showalter about the topic. It's a shame that he is no longer with us. I was excited to continue our conversations and even start learning German. He was also deeply educated in topics outside of history. We also talked about the "Rashomon effect" on how different people can have different interpretations of the same event. 

Some people might think about his age and think it was his time. However, I couldn't disagree more. He was as lucid as they come. He as writing a new book. I actually think he had at least 80 more years of writing! 

Prof. Showalter was my favorite teacher of all time. I majored in Military history because of him. He was a mentor, and a friend. We kept in touch long after I graduated from CC, writing recommendations for me for my peace corps and graduate school applications and mentoring me through some tough times. I can’t put into words what he meant to me and how much he impacted my life. His constant support, encouragement and down to earth no nonsense pep talks made my time at CC. He is truly missed, but I am so thankful I had the opportunity to learn from him - about history and about life. My deepest condolences to his family. Hopefully they find comfort knowing how much impact he had on others. He was a good one. 

I had been thinking about Dr. Showalter quite a bit lately and was saddened to come across his obituary. I took every class he offered at UCCS in the mid 70s. He was an engaging, entertaining, motivational, brilliant teacher. I loved every moment of his classes. He was also a wonderful person who allowed us glimpses of his life. I remember him coming to class to share news of the birth of his first child. He was so happy and proud. There are generations of students who will remember him as the best teacher they ever had.  He will be missed. 

I did not now Dr. Showalter personally.  But back when he was at West Point, I contacted him about a methodological theory for analysis of a type of military event.  Although an independent researcher, I was given a patient tour through the analysis of a particular historical event.  My eventual paper on the controversial event is widely cited and assigned worldwide.   Thank you Dr. Showalter for making "gentleman and scholar" more than a cliche. 

So sorry to hear of your passing.  I was searching for some WWII information when I saw your name and obituary.  I remember as a little kid about 6, my family was visiting yours in Delano MN.  Your mom Ann was my grandmother's (Agnes) sister.   I wandered into your room and saw the table with all the tin soldiers.  I picked one up, looked at it amazed at the detail,  and set it down.  You came in, looked at the table and asked if I was the one who moved the General.  I just shrugged my shoulders. You then  picked up the General and very politely told me he belongs in the front.  You then proceeded to explain the whole setup.  You were a teacher even as a teenager!   Rest in Peace, Dennis. 

I never met Professor Showalter.  I was impressed by a couple of his books and so I approached him by email.  I had some questions and some observations.
He responded graciously and generously and was never condescending.
His family, and history, have suffered a great loss.

Dennis Showalter and I were classmates at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN.  In our sophomore year we both lived in St. Mary's Residence Hall.  Dennis lived down the hall from me.  He made it clear to everyone that his goal was to get A's in every course.  I recall that he chose not to carry his wastebasket down the hall to empty it but instead set it on fire in his room so he wouldn't lose study time.  When the Benedictine priest who was in charge of our dorm heard about this, he gave Dennis strict orders not to do this ever again, and we all heard about it.  Dennis was always a good person and we all liked him.  I am proud to have known him and I'm proud of his success.   

I was so busy with historical work that I just learned of Dr. Showalter's passing. I only had brief contacts with him, but he was always open to discussion and shared his support unselfishly. He was a peer reviewer of one of my works, and for this I'm both grateful and honored. He will be missed.

Den did so much for me personally and professionally. I can’t thank him enough. Great guy and friend to all. He will be missed.

Bill Kautt 

"Hey Denny!  Are you still a rabid Yankee fan?  Do you still prefer your pizza cold and in the morning for breakfast?"   This is the beginning of an email that I intended to send Denny numerous times over the past few years but never got around to it.  I would have added:  "You know I can ask you these things because I once beat you in a Prof Heininger Modern European History test"  (while we were students at St. John's University in the early 1960's. )  I suspect he would have been pleased to have been contacted by an old classmate and friend, but I also know he would have been notably , though good naturedly so, annoyed by  a reminder of not finishing first in a history exam.  RIP Denny!

Dennis and I always said we were the siblings we didn’t have. He was like a brother, but he was also a teacher, a mentor, and a dear dear friend. I loved him very much. His passing leaves a great big hole in my heart. I am so grateful for everything he gave to me and for his unwavering confidence in my abilities and intelligence. And finally, I am and will remain so very proud of him. 

Patsy and I only met Dennis once, when we Brits joined a week long tour of the Eastern Theatre Civil War battlefields for which he was the travelling historian. His ability to impart history with insight and great humour is a memory that will remain with us for ever. And in subsequent years, he gave me valuable steer on elements of my MA First World War studies and was good enough to request a copy of my dissertation for his own perusal. Much missed, never forgotten!

Professor Showalter was an excellent guide and mentor, and helped me greatly when I set out to write a Master's thesis on the Schleswig War of 1964.

Dennis was a good friend, mentor, and one of the kindest men I’ve known, he will be sorely missed.   I felt so honored to be invited to the Pritzker Award Dinner by Dennis, it was one of the highpoints of my life, I am so glad I got to share that night with his family and friends.

OBITUARY

Dennis Edwin Showalter

February 12, 1942 – December 30, 2019

Swan-Law Funeral Directors

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Updates

Services