STALHEIM, Kenneth A. 1920-2005

STALHEIM, OLSON, OLESON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/3/2009 at 19:19:43

Kenneth ‘Ken’ A. Stalheim

NORA SPRINGS, IOWA — Kenneth “Ken” A. Stalheim 85, died peacefully on Saturday (Sept. 10, 2005) at the Nora Springs Care Center, Nora Springs.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 833 Ash St., Osage, with the Rev. Dennis Hanson and the Rev. Roy Ott officiating. Burial will be in the Sunnyside Memory Gardens Cemetery, Highway 218 S., Charles City, with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City. Visitation will also be one hour prior to service time on Wednesday at the church.

Kenneth A. "Ken" Stalheim was born on March 1, 1920, near Scarville, Iowa, the son of Ed and Minnie (Olson) Stalheim. He attended Scarville Country School and the Lutheran School in Scarville. He was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Scarville. He was most recently a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Osage.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1944[?], and was honorably discharged in 1946. He served as an Aviation Machinist Mate Third Class aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kwajalein in the Hawaiian Islands, Guam and the Philippines during World War II.

On December 13, 1947, he married Freda L. Oleson from Nashua, Iowa. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City. Ken worked as a hired farmhand during much of his early life prior to going to war in 1944. He later worked at Jacob E. Decker & Sons (Armour) for 33 years until it closed. He took early retirement and then worked at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa for five years.

In retirement, he helped do field work for a friend in the spring and fall. He also liked to sell cars on occasion in his front yard on the highway for a friend. Ken and his wife, Freda, volunteered for many years for the State of Iowa and received the Governor’s Award for their service in 1996. Ken’s wife, Freda, died on November 10, 1999, after 52 years of marriage. Since then, he has had a special friend, Melba Kuper, who has joined him in many activities and helped him enjoy these past few years.

He, his wife and family camped throughout the United States during the 1960s and ’70s visiting nearly every state. They belonged to several camping clubs like Wigwam-N-Wagon Campers and Good Sam’s throughout their lifetime. Ken had been a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and a member of the Eagles and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Ken loved tinkering in his garage, building things, going to USS Kwajalien reunions, traveling and visiting with people. He also loved finding a fellow Norwegian so he could have a conversation in Norwegian with them.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Marlen Stalheim of Ames, Lyle and his wife, Connie Stalheim, of Muscatine, Roger and his wife, Karen Stalheim, of Winterset; two daughters, Darlys and her husband, Nick Vlantes, of Mason City, and Connie and her husband, Mitch Morrison, of Nora Springs; several grandchildren: Jennifer and her husband, Steve Steenbeke, of Des Moines, Terri and her husband, Mike Brydges, of Manhattan, Kan., Phillip and Nathan Stalheim of Muscatine, Conrad Stalheim of Ames, Amy Stalheim of Des Moines, Eric Stalheim of Winterset, Nicole, Christina and Travis Vlantes of Mason City, Melissa Burmester of Nora Springs, and Lindsay Burmester of Ames; step-grandchildren: Johnathan, Todd and his wife, Elizabeth Morrison, of Walker, Minn.; one great-granddaughter, Jaydon Nicole Vlantes; one great-grandson, Austin James Steenbeke; and one step-great granddaughter, Malayna Noelle Morrison.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; four sisters; his wife, Freda; and his eldest son, Terry.

Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, (641) 423-2372 -- www.colonialchapels.com

[Globe Gazette]