KONKEN, John 1929-1987

KONKEN, HEMPEN, EIKLENBORG

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/31/2012 at 19:44:32

Rites Held Saturday For John Konken

John Henry Konken was born the son of Henry and Mary Hempen Konken on June 25, 1929, in Grundy County near Stout, IA. He graduated from the Dike High School in Dike, IA.

On February 23, 1951, John was united in marriage to Marlys Eiklenborg in the Reformed Church in Stout, IA. They always lived near Stout and in Stout.

John served in the United States Army from October 2, 1951, to September 16, 1953, during the Korean Conflict. Following the time he spent in the army, he farmed near Stout for a few years; then was employed by the Arco Farm Center in Stout; and the past 15 years, was an electrical contractor, owning and operating Konken Electric in Stout, with his son Randy working full time with him the past nine years.

John was an active member of the Reformed Church of Stout. Having served as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday school teacher, and in Men's Brotherhood. John and Marlys also helped with the concession stand at the softball field. For hobbies, John was known as the "candy man", always giving candy to children, at church or wherever he went. He also enjoyed his greeting sign in his front yard with greetings of: Happy Birthday, Weddings, Anniversaries, or maybe just saying "Hello", or "Have a Great Day".

On Tuesday, April 7, 1987, John came home from work not feeling well. After eating his lunch, his son, Randy took him to his doctor in Grundy Center. While in the doctors office, John suffered a heart attack, and was taken to the Covenant Medical Center-Schoitz in Waterloo, IA. He died about 5 p.m. John reached the age of 57 years, nine months and 13 days.

John Henry is survived by his: wife, Marlys Konken of Stout; one daughter, Myra, Mrs. Dennis Aswegen of Rt. 1, Parkersburg; one son, Randall Konken and his wife, Jill of Stout; four grandchildren, Ross, Sarah and Reed Aswegen and Lindsey Konken; one sister, Harriet, Mrs. Harold Houlihan of Marshalltown. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 11, 1987, in the Reformed Church of Stout with Pastor Don Ringnalda officiating. Mrs. Elaine Schnell was the organist with Marcia Allspach and Janet Johnson singing "Amazing Grace" and "It Is Well With My Soul". The congregational hymn was "Blessed Assurance". Casketbearers were: William Aswegan, Jr., David Munger, Donald Adams, Vernon Tapper, Paul Klingenborg and Calvin Heyenga. Interment followed in the Stout Cemetery.

Schwartz-Engelkes Funeral Home in Parkersburg was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 16 April 1987