Kenneth McClain

Kenneth Ivan McClain passed peacefully away on the morning of October 26, 2023 at Glen Oaks Alzheimer’s Care Center in Urbandale where he had resided since June 2022. The self-proclaimed “Skinny Kenny” began life with his parents Earl and Golda McClain near Jordan, Iowa on July 24, 1932. He outlived his siblings, Virgil, Duane and Ella Mae. They were a mischievous and fun-loving family.

Kenny graduated from Rockwell High School and briefly attended Drake University. He married Barbara Marie Boots on November 27, 1959. They worked the family farm near Rockwell for several years before moving to Des Moines with their children Kevin and Linda.

Kenny worked for several years at M&W Gear Company in Des Moines and retired from the Iowa Commission for the Blind Library. For many years he was a well-known softball coach at the Des Moines Girls Softball League where he was known for fair play, witty remarks and ability to jump the dugout fence after a win.

Kenny loved the Iowa Hawkeyes but also cheered for the Cyclones. He was a lifelong St Louis Cardinals fan and a fan of the Green Bay Packers. He was an avid card player. He especially enjoyed poker and pitch where he employed the strategy of taking his partners set.

Kenny and Barb enjoyed traveling and took many bus trips notably to Alaska and New England in the fall. They also traveled to Hawaii, Las Vegas and Niagara Falls among other places.

After retirement Kenny and Barbara moved from Urbandale to Ankeny where they resided for 19 years until they returned to Urbandale in 2022. Kenny was proud of his children and loved his 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife Barbara McClain and children Kevin and Julie McClain and Linda and Dave Everett, grandchildren Samantha Hayden, Nikki and Billy Fisher, Zach and Bailey McClain, Alex and Ashlee Everett and Casey and Lisa Everett and great-grandchildren Max, Maddy and Mason Hayden, Honor, Kael and Vincent Fisher, Austin, Madelyn and Wyatt Everett and Caden and Rylan Everett.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., with a time of sharing from 2:30 - 3:00 p.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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