KERKVLIET, Ferdinand 1917-2008

KERKVLIET, HONRATH

Posted By: Roger Stubbe (email)
Date: 8/29/2008 at 16:09:42

Ferdinand Kerkvliet, age 90 of Larchwood, Lyon county, Iowa died Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at his residence near Larchwood.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, August 30, 2008 at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, with burial at Larchwood Cemetery. Full military honors were provided by Flessner American Legion Post No. 561 of Larchwood.

Ferdinand Kerkvliet was born November 29, 1917, at Elkton, South Dakota. At two years of age, his parents moved to Larchwood, Iowa. He attended school there and graduated in 1936 from St. Mary’s High School.

In 1939, he went to California where he worked as a machine operator for Consolidated Aircraft. In 1942, he volunteered for the Air Force and became a crew member on a B29. He was first stationed at Paradoba, India. From there, they flew “The Hump” to China with supplies. Then the 58th Bomb Wing moved to Tinian Island in the Pacific. From there, they flew 21 missions of 2,600 miles each while bombing Japan. At war’s end, he was honorably discharged at Santa Ana, California, on November 27, 1945 and became a member of the American Legion for 64 years and the VFW for 20 years. He received eight Battle Stars, three Presidential Unit Citations, three Air Medals and a medal from the Republic of China. He was very proud of the time he served during WWII. More can be read about Ferdinand at the New England Air Museum, 58th Bomb Wing Memorial website (www.neam.org/profile.asp?ID=308).

In 1947 he married Virginia Honrath at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Together they farmed for over 30 years and raised a family of seven children. Family and farming were the joy of his life. Together with the family, they traveled to all four coasts and saw most of the states. Virginia and Ferd traveled to Europe in 1985, Alaska and Hawaii some time later. After retirement, Ferd and Virginia moved to an acreage southwest of Larchwood.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 61 years, Virginia “Jean” Kerkvliet; his four daughters, Judy (Tom) Odell, Alice (Don) Child, Maggie Kerkvliet and Mary (Chuck) Ivey; three sons, Joe (Vicki) Kerkvliet, Mike (Becky) Kerkvliet and Greg Kerkvliet; twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Veronica (Eldon) Gradert, Agnes (Irwin) Friedrich; many nieces, nephews and cousins. “And Jim Lacey is a special friend.”

Ferdinand was preceded in death by his parents, Gerard and Mathilda; three sisters, Rose, Marcella and Mary; and two brothers, William and Robert. “I am especially thankful to my family but am surely grateful for it all””

(Jurrens Funeral Home obituary)