Israel Anderson Denham

Israel Anderson Denham, a Life of Love, passion for plants, music, food, cooking, fishing, animals (especially cats), and the law – has been brought to an early end. Israel Anderson Denham, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi (37), drifted off this mortal coil and his spirit was released to explore the universe freely on Monday, January 16, 2017. Israel Anderson Denham came screaming into this world on August 9, 1979 in Ocean Springs, MS to Renita Dawn Menzies and Earl Lamar Denham, Jr. Israel had a passion for nature and all the life that surrounded him. He spent his days, up until the very last, fishing, hunting, growing and (sometimes) talking to plants. When it came to animals (of all kinds), there was no end to his love – he never knew a stray for long and felt the little creatures just needed a home to be loved. He attended high school on the Gulf Coast with the aspirations of attending Ole Miss and becoming an attorney. At the University of Mississippi Israel met his wife, Heather Levanduski Denham, and began to grow a new passion and a love that was second to none. The loving bond that Israel shared with his wife Heather could not be broken by anything. When duty called Israel took up arms with the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of Corporal, from 2000 – 2005. In 2003 he served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, fighting for his country and defending our freedom. Neither distance, mountains, seas, Iraq, war, nor the debilitating illness that wreaked havoc on his body in the aftermath of his military service, could break the spirit and truth of the love between Israel and Heather – nor will it in his departure from this world. The mental anguish of the many lives he lived took Izzy from us too soon. He was far too stubborn to allow this world to be the extent of his travels – he needed freedom and a stream with no rocks or weeds, in the happy hunting grounds beyond. Israel is preceded in death by his mother, Renita. Israel is survived by his loving wife, Heather, his 4-year old son, Elias Tate, his brothers and sisters, father, and many dogs and 25,000 cats that he took in over the years. A Celebration of Life will be held in a private family ceremony on Sunday, January 22, 2017. There will be no viewing since his wife refuses to honor his request to have him standing in the corner of the room with a glass of Jack Daniels in his hand so that he would appear natural to visitors. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to his son’s GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/israel-denham