Kenneth N. “Big Kenny” McGregor, Sr.

Kenneth “Big Kenny” McGregor, 76, went home to be with the Lord on December 25, 2012, at his home, laying back in his recliner. Kenny was born in Des Moines on January 25, 1936, to Everdell and Thomas McGregor. In his adolescence he had a knack for anything mechanical, and earned his first experience tearing things apart at his grandpa’s place. He received his education in the Des Moines Public School system, and later the United States Air Force, where he served for three years and seven months as an aircraft mechanic for jet fighters.

After the military, he came home and married the love of his life, Kathryn, and from that union they had seven sons and three daughters, and of course his wife’s first son, Jimmy, Jr., whom he dearly loved and raised as his own.

In 1976, Kenneth and his wife met Reverend Jeremiah Reed and they repented and were baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. From that point on, Kenneth’s mission became helping in the church in any way that he could. He was a deacon, baptizer, Sunday school teacher, did carpentry for the church buildings, security, and was on the board during his tenure. He loved to be a help to the pastor and would do anything that was requested of him.

Kenny was the proprietor of Ken’s Trash Removal Service, and from that he branched off and formed Brother’s Two Automotive Services which he successfully operated with his brother and sons. He managed some government contracts and was the chief officer at Saylorville Lake and handled maintenance there. He also did contractual work at Red Rock Lake and Stockton Lake through the Army Corp of Engineers for four years. In 1983, he started working with youth at Iowa Junior Careers, which merged into the United Youth Careers, and he successfully ran that from 1984 until 2009. During those years he touched the lives of thousands of youth, and he only stepped away when his health took a turn for the worst. His favorite saying was, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” Our father was a work horse, so we know the Lord allowed him to get down on his health because he needed to come spend a few years with his own family who desperately needed him.

Kenneth leaves to mourn his memory, daughters, Anna (Harvey Sr.) Ricks, Lillie (Antonio) Ward, and Marjorie Watson; sons, Kenneth Jr., Everett Sr., Kevin (Katrina), Robert Sr., Terry Sr. (Kimberly) and Jermaine; 32 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and foster children, Lavern Jr. and Yvonne Campbell.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn; sons, James F. Ewing Jr. and George David Lee McGregor; both of his parents; a sister; and his first grandchild, Harvey Lee Ricks Jr.

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 4 p.m. Sunday, December 30, 2012, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street. Kenneth will be held laid to rest at Glendale Cemetery next to his wife Kathryn in the Veterans section.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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