Walter J. "Red" Kane 1926-2009

KANE, OBRIEN, NEENAN, WYNE, OTTOSON, BREITBACH

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 9/13/2017 at 17:40:22

February 17, 2009 Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Walter J. "Red" Kane, CLU, ChFC, 82, of Sartell, Minn., formerly of Dubuque, passed peacefully Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in Peoria, Ariz., from complications following an automobile accident.

Services will be at noon Saturday, Feb. 21, at St. Columbkille's Catholic Church, Dubuque. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa, were full military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post 6. Friends may call from 9 to 11:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque.

He was born on July 11, 1926, in Placid, Iowa, son of Eldon and Marcella (O'Brien) Kane. He was educated at St. Columbkille's Elementary and High School in Dubuque. He was president of his senior class.

He married his high school sweetheart, JoAnn (Joke) Neenan on Aug. 28, 1948, at St. Columbkille's Church. They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.

Walt enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946 as an EMT3/c, after serving on the destroyer U.S.S. Fechteler. Upon discharge, he attended Loras College.

He was employed at the John Deere Dubuque Works in the production control area for two years before joining the Prudential Insurance Co. He was with Prudential in Dubuque for 14 years as an agent and sales manager. During this time, he held various offices in the Life Underwriters Association and taught several Life Underwriters Training Council courses. He spent 11 years in Omaha, Neb., in the positions of training consultant and district manager. He was appointed manager, field training in 1973, for Prudential's nine state North Central operations in Minneapolis. He retired in April, 1984, as director, advanced marketing and field training for the North Central Region.

Walt was a president of the St. Columbkille's Holy Name Society and the St. Columbkille's Alumni Association. He also was active in the parishes of St. Pius X in Omaha, St. Edwards in Bloomington, Minn., Sacred Heart, in Hackensack, Minn., St. Joachim and Anne in Sun City, Ariz., and St. Francis Xavier in Sartell.

Since retiring, he has served as president of the volunteer association at the Deep Portage Conservation Preserve in Hackensack, and has been active in the Hackensack Senior Citizen's Club, including the fundraising for and the building of the Hackensack Senior Center. He has been a longtime member of church choirs at St. Edwards and Sacred Heart churches. He also sang with groups in performances of The Messiah, The Ballad of Lucette and The Bad Habits in Hackensack and Walker, Minn. He was a member of Post 202 of the Hackensack American Legion, the Hackensack Lions, the Isaac Walton League, Ridgewood Golf Club and Senior League, Ten Mile Lake Association and its board of directors and Board of the Homeowner's Association of Casa del Sol Resort West in Peoria, Ariz.

Walt really enjoyed the many gatherings and celebrations of his family and friends and he very much appreciated the extensive care provided to him by many dedicated medical professionals and his loving family, especially in his later years.

Surviving are his wife, JoAnn, of Sartell; two daughters, Judy (Tom) Wyne, of St. Cloud, Minn., and Jackie (Paul) Ottoson, of Chanhassen, Minn.; three sons, Dennis (Jan) Kane, of Champaign, Ill., David (Joann) Kane, of Hopkins, Minn., and Doug (Gail) Kane, of Buffalo, Minn.; 14 grandchildren, Steven, Brian and Beckie Kane, of Champaign and Naperville, Ill., Kevin, Kateri and Keith (Mary Beth) Wyne, of Burlington, Vt., Los Angeles, and Minneapolis, respectively, Tim and Danny Kane, of Hopkins, Joe, Bill and KC Kane, of Buffalo, Minn., Jeff (Tera) Kane, of St. Michael, Minn., Nicolas and Darby Ottoson, of Chanhassen, Minn.; and two sisters, Benita (Curt) Kirschbaum and Carol Kane, both of Bloomington.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Richard (Ruth) Kane; and sister, Irene (Donald) Breitbach.