Denny Simkins Kastelic Carlisle Obituary (1934 - 2023)

Our beloved Denny Simkins Kastelic Carlisle passed away at her St George home on Saturday, December 23, 2023. She was 89. Denny was born to Earnest C. Simkins and Geneveive Blaney on September 26, 1934, at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake. She was a beautiful blonde with sparkly green eyes and a love of learning. She was the oldest of five children. Her sisters Merry, Dorothy, and twins Kathy and Kent followed. Her father worked at the Bingham Copper mine as the Kennecott Personnel Manager and her mother was an exceptional seamstress and worked at ZCMI for many years. The family lived in Copperton where Denny attended Bingham High school where she was part of the dance program and excelled in academics developing a passion for literature and visual art. She also met and developed a passion for a certain handsome football and baseball star named Ronny Kastelic. With those brooding dark eyes and quaff of dark hair... who could resist! They both graduated from Bingham and were later married on June 30, 1956. Denny and Ronald attended the University of Utah where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1957. Their first daughter Kristin was born the next year. Andrea and Victor rounded out the family of five over the next nine years that followed. Denny dedicated her whole professional life to teaching. Wherever she went she taught school. During the California and Idaho years with Ronald, she was appointed a role as a migrant and native American educator. She began her full-time teaching career in the Jordan School District at Hillcrest High School in the art department then moved to Brighton High where she also taught art for four years. In 1974 she returned to school to further her education at the University of Utah where she completed her master's degree in education, then finalized with an Ed.S degree which led her to her years of administration in public schools. As a Title 9 ice-breaker Denny forged into administrative roles first as Vice Principal of Hillcrest High School from 1976 through 1979 then as Utah’s first woman elementary school principal at Mountview Elementary School from 1980 to 1985. During this time her husband Ronald passed away after a long battle with type 1 diabetes in 1981. In 1982 she met and married Norman Carlisle who was a Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff. As a child Denny’s daughter Andrea was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Her kidneys began to fail, and she received a kidney transplant from Denny which sadly was rejected. They attempted another transplant to save her life which was also unsuccessful. Andrea passed away in 1988. Amidst dramatic life-changing events, Norman was at her side and brought her great comfort and joy. In the fall of 1985 Denny became the first woman high school principal in Utah and as fate would have it, she was assigned to her alma mater Bingham High School. As reported In a Salt Lake Tribune article she said, “It was like coming home!” She retired from Bingham with many congratulatory cards and letters from District, State and local leaders as well as hundreds of students and faculty she supported and championed. Then the fun began! Denny and Norman purchased a large motor home and traveled to whatever golf course was calling to them. They traveled to Italy and explored Europe. When they journeyed to Star Valley Wyoming, they discovered the beauty of the landscape and eventually established a second cabin home. Many family members and friends spent summer days on the cabin porch with Denny and Norm enjoying a thunderstorm or watching the sand cranes in the wild grass. Their time was happily shared with friends, children and grandchildren alike. Denny and Norman sold the home in Sandy on Robidoux in 1992 and became snowbirds, commuting between golf courses and homes; St George in the summer and Star Valley in the winter. As the back and forth became more difficult, they wrapped up their time in Star Valley and sold the cabin. Hagen Circle became their year-round permanent home. Denny had bridge club, lunch dates with her friends and participated in the local community and art scene. She taught watercolor techniques in her home to both children and adults. Denny created beautiful watercolor artwork throughout her life. In 2019 Norman passed away. Denny and her daughter Kristin joined forces and spent the last four years of her life in the St. George home with the beautiful view of the red butte out the back dining room window. Denny’s passing leaves us missing her warm and loving embrace and ever-encouraging words. She was a trailblazer and a strong-willed advocate of self-determination. She was soft spoken and loving. We will miss those teaching moments she always had in her pocket. We love you. She is survived by her daughter Kristin Montoya, son Victor (Elena) Kastelic, daughter Gealine Carlisle (Jerry) Mangelson. Grandchildren, Tommy, Zeno, Tazio, Amy, Keaton, Cade & Cloee and a tussle of great grandchildren, sisters Dorthy Dart and Kathy Rabb. A Celebration of Denny’s Life will be held at twelve o’clock noon on Tuesday January 2, 2024 at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 4760 South State Street, Murray, Utah. For the burial of Denny’s ashes, there will be a private family gathering later in the day at Murray City Cemetery.