Kenneth Holveck

Kenneth Holveck, 95, died June 15, 2012, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, of congestive heart failure. A memorial service will be held to commemorate his life at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14, 2012, at Bangor-Liberty Friends Church, 1260 Hopkins Avenue, Union, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the Bangor-Liberty Friends Church Memorial Fund for the establishment of a college scholarship fund for deserving youth studying to become teachers.

Kenny was born on September 24, 1916, near Bangor, Iowa, to John G. and Clara (Cox) Holveck. When he was five, the family moved to Union, Iowa, where he grew to adulthood and graduated from high school in 1934. In 1936, he graduated from Marshalltown Junior College. He attended Iowa State Teachers College, where he met his future bride, Bess Comfort. He later opened an appliance store in Union, and worked as a salesman for Miller Chevrolet in State Center. He and Bess were married on June 7, 1942, and began farming near Zearing, Iowa. They then moved to a farm near St. Anthony, Iowa, and in 1945, they moved to the farm where he was born. They lived there for nearly 60 years before moving to The Embers in Marshalltown in 2004. After Bess died in October, 2010, Kenny made his home with his daughter-in-law and son, Andrea and Jack Holveck of Des Moines.

Kenny was a birthright member of Bangor Friends Church, where he and Bess were active until age and health precluded their participation. He served as an usher for many years at the Church and derived a great deal of satisfaction from serving in this capacity. He and Bess also served as leaders of the church youth group for a number of years. In his seventies and early eighties, Kenny enjoyed performing as “Dimples the Clown” in “Willie and Friends," a Christian entertainment group consisting of fellow church members who performed for churches and civic groups. He also served as an assistant leader for the local boys’ 4-H Club.

Kenny was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoyed people, cattle, horses, dogs, gardening, and woodworking. For the past seventy years, he made peanut brittle at Christmas to give as gifts to others. He shared his love of woodworking by constructing a number of pieces of furniture for family and friends. In later years, he particularly enjoyed his border collie, “Buddy,” that he received as a pup on his 80th birthday. Kenny always placed the welfare of others before his own, and denied himself many things for the benefit of his family. He attempted to treat others as he wanted to be treated, and recently confided to his family that when he talked to someone he always tried to say something that would make them feel better.

Kenny is survived by his sons, Jack (Andrea) Holveck of Des Moines and Dr. Robert (Karla) Holveck of Newberg, Oregon, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two nieces, two nephews, and two first cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, L.J., his wife, Bess, and an infant grandson.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Taylor House Hospice for the loving care provided to Kenny during the last weeks of his life.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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