McKenna, Mike (1946-2014)
MCKENNA, CHAMPLIN, LATTA, RATHKE, OSTERMAN, MCKENNA, STRADER, CASLAVKA, FAGAN, MOORE
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/7/2014 at 15:47:36
Mike McKenna
November 3, 1946 - September 14, 2014Michael "Mike" James McKenna, age 67, of Blakesburg, passed away at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City on September 14, 2014.
Michael was born November 3, 1946, in Elgin, Illinois, to James and Marye Champlin McKenna. He grew up in Storm Lake, Iowa, attending Saint Mary's Catholic schools. A member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at Iowa State University, he graduated with a major in farm operations. He, also, met Christine Latta at Iowa State. After they married on April 18, 1970, they bought a farm and settled in Blakesburg, Iowa.
A devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and brother, Mike was passionate about his family, farming, and preserving the land for future generations. He served in the Army National Guard. Employed by Doane and Hawkeye farm management companies and a founding partner of Mid States Farm Management in Ottumwa, Iowa, he worked as well as Wapello County's Iowa State Extension Director for several years. With the help of his sons, Mike, also, raised hogs and farmed the land in Blakesburg for over thirty years. A gifted conversationalist, he, avidly, enjoyed listening to programs on NPR.
Michael and Christine were blessed with four sons: Matt (Sherri) and Ryan (Sarah) McKenna, of Kansas City, Missouri, Mark (Dana) McKenna, of Ankeny, Iowa, and Patrick (Jackie) McKenna, of West Des Moines, Iowa, and nine wonderful grandchildren.
In addition to his sons, Michael is also survived by his siblings: Rosemarye (John) Rathke, Kathleen (Bruce) Osterman, Kevin (Jan) McKenna, Maureen (Brad) Strader, Stephen McKenna, Teresa (Brian) Caslavka, and Melissa (Dennis) Fagan; and his companion, Betty Moore, who brightened his life in recent years.
Preceding him in death were his loving wife of thirty-nine years and his parents.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be directed to the Loving Shepard Food Pantry serving the tri-county area and the Wapello County Youth 4-H program.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Thursday, September 18, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, Iowa. Burial will follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m. at the Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa, Iowa. There will also be a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
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