Sellars, Kenneth L. 1945-2015

SELLARS, BUNNELL, DUNWOODY, PHILLIPS, MAYHEW, GARRISON, LANPHIER, MATTIX, GOINGS, HERSHEY, COSTANZO, RAY, FINCHER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/27/2015 at 14:06:06

Eternal life began for Kenneth L. Sellars, 70, of Oskaloosa on Friday evening, July 24th, 2015, with his “little nippers” by his side at the MHP Hospice Serenity House.

Kenneth La Verne Sellars, son of Harold Kenneth and Dorothy Beatrice (Bunnell) Sellars was born on May 26th, 1945 in Newton, Iowa. As a child his family moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa where he graduated with the class of 1963. That same year he enlisted in the Air Force and served briefly before being honorably discharged in 1964 for medical reasons. He then returned to Oskaloosa and was employed by the Safeway store. During his working career he was employed as a manager of Ideal Supply Company, Farmers Cashway Lumber, and later Pioneer Lumber Company in Coal City, Illinois. After a brief time in Ainsworth, Iowa he returned back to Oskaloosa in 2001 for his retirement.

Ken was united in marriage to Loretta Joann Dunwoody, on September 26, 1965. To that union, four daughters and one son was born. Ken and Loretta later divorced.

Ken had a wonderful sense of humor and came up with colorful names like “Ercil P. Twine & Bolivar Shagnasty”. He was always telling jokes and could always give you a smile and laugh. He was a wonderful father and gave his all when asked to help. He was very active in the Oskaloosa Little League Baseball for many years, serving as a coach/manager, vice-president and president. He was also a member and held several offices in the Eagles Aerie #276 in Oskaloosa. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, genealogy, astrology, chess, but most of all, he enjoyed having his family around.

His family includes his companion Carol Leatherwood; his children: Rhonda Joann (Steve) Phillips, Robin Sue (Joe) Mayhew, Dorothy Ann (Shawn) Garrison, and Douglas Anthony (Sarah) Sellars; 17 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; his mother, Dorothy Lanphier; siblings; Kent (Lusia) Sellars, Donald Sellars, Diana (Bruce) Mattix and Roxann (Mike) Goings; and his estranged wife, Arlene Sellars.

Ken was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Lynn Hershey; father, Harold Kenneth Sellars Jr; sister, Linda Costanzo; stepfather, Jack Lanphier; father and mother-in-law, Everett “Pat” Ray and Dorothy Dunwoody, and great grandson, David Joseph Fincher.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Ken at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2015, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Pastor Alvern Boetsma of the Good News Chapel officiating. As was his wish, his body has been cremated and burial of his ashes will be in Bluff Creek Cemetery in rural Mahaska County. Military honors will be presented by the Oskaloosa Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project. ~ The Des Moines Register Legacy, Des Moines, Iowa 27 Jul 2015.