Earl Kading (2014)

KADING, MARTIN, STANLEY, HESTER, WESTERGAARD, THOMPSON, HOPSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/14/2020 at 06:58:42

Johnson Family Funeral Home
Dexter, Iowa

Earl Wendell "Red" Kading, Sr., 96, of Surprise, Arizona, and formerly of Casey, Iowa, peacefully passed away, Friday, December 19, 2014, at Hospice of the Valley in Surprise, Arizona. A private joint celebration service for Earl and his wife Louise will be held in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter Iowa. Johnson Family Funeral Home in Dexter is handling local services.

Earl was born with twin brother, Glenn William, in Casey, Iowa, on February 09, 1918, to Frederic and Barbara (Martin) Kading. Earl grew up in Casey, with his seven brothers and sisters, and graduated Casey High School in 1935. On June 19, 1940, Earl was united in marriage with Martha Louise Stanley, in Stuart, Iowa.

Earl was a hard worker his entire life. Cutting river ice in Winter, performing any job a local farmer had available, raising pigeons in the garage attic, and helping with his father's painting and wallpapering business, were only a few things, Earl worked at, in the depths of the Great Depression.

In April, 1942, Earl enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and went to the South Pacific with the Navy Seabees. In the Summer of 1945, Earl was critically burned in a flash fire, and was still on the critical list, when the War ended in August, 1945. In the late 1940's, Earl became employed at the Swift Meat Packing Facility (Iowa Pack) in Des Moines, Iowa. Earl worked for Iowa Pack, until the plant closing, and then transferred to a New Swift Facility, in Tolleson, Arizona, in 1968. Earl worked there until his retirement in 1977.

Earl was a gregarious family man. He took a great delight in life, whether it be his children, and their families; food (Louise's cooking); drink; or a Spring Training Baseball Game, in Arizona. As they say in the Navy, "Red" Kading was "All engines ahead full!" He lived life with "Mucho Gusto!"

Earl is survived by daughters, Mary Patsy Hester, of Urbandale, Iowa; Kathryn Anne (Neil) Westergaard, of Marion, Iowa; Sons, Earl (Dee) Kading, Jr., of Polk City, Iowa; Russ Kading of Surprise, Arizona; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Earl was preceded in death by his beloved wife, of more than 70 years, Louise; his parents, Fred and Barbara Kading; sisters, Helen Thompson, Grace Hopson, Ruth Kading; and brothers, Edward Kading, Eldon Kading, his twin, Glenn Kading and Kenneth Kading.

(Arrangements: Johnson Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service – Dexter – Iowa)