Kenneth L. Apel 1919-2005

APEL, KNOCKEL, LONG, FOLKERS, BARNETT, VOELKER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/30/2015 at 17:21:01

Kenneth L. Apel, 85, of 2705 Ken Court, died Sunday, June 5, 2005, at The Finley Hospital, Dubuque.

Due to construction at Nativity Church, services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Linwood Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road.

Mr. Apel worked for the Adams Co. for 35 years, retiring as a vice president in 1982.

He was born on Oct. 9, 1919, in Dubuque, son of Emil and Bertha (Knockel) Apel. He married Barbara Ann "Jackie" Long on May 15, 1943, in Camp Rucker, Ala.

He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School and attended Iowa State College, majoring in engineering.

While at Iowa State, he was a member of Scabbard & Blade and Iowa State's Reserve Officer Training Corps equestrians team.

World War II interrupted his studies, and he became a Second Lieutenant serving with the 35th Division. Ken fought in five European campaigns serving under Generals Baade, Omar Bradley and George Patton, receiving the Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Following active duty, he served with the 389th Engineer Reserve Battalion in Dubuque, retiring as Battalion Commander with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1979.

He was a member of Nativity Parish for more than 60 years and a member of the American Legion, Dubuque, Post 6.

Among his many civic activities, he served on the Girl Scout board and Board of Directors of the YMCA, where he served as president in the late 1970s.

An avid fisherman, golfer and hunter, Ken enjoyed the outdoors. Indoors, he enjoyed the Cubs, Bears and cheering for Cyclone football.

Surviving are his wife, Jackie, of Dubuque; his children, Tucki (Chip) Folkers, of Mason City, Iowa, Rob (Chris) Apel, of East Dubuque, Ill., and Tim (Wendy) Apel, of Las Vegas, Nev.; three grandchildren, Max (Christa) Folkers, Jenny (Andy) Barnett and Lieutenant Ben Folkers; two great-grandchildren, Gus Folkers and Frances Barnett; and his sister, Gladys Voelker, of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Donald.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the YMCA-YWCA Community Center and Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Wednesday, June 8, 2005