Kenneth "Kenny" W. Burden

BURDEN, THOMPSON, CAMP, SPENCER, ALLEN, BROMMEL, MCCLEARY, ESTES

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 3/23/2007 at 09:27:11

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
March 21, 2007

KENNETH "KENNY" W. BURDEN, Redfield

Kenneth Wayne Burden was born the son of Dewey and Viola (Murphy) Burden in Dexter, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 1934. He died at the Hospice Kavanagh House on 56th Street in Des Moines on March 14, 2007, at the age of 73 years, 2 months and 4 days. Kenny received his education in country schools south of Dexter.

Kenny and Lona Thompson were married in Adel, Iowa, on Oct. 20, 1956. He farmed and also worked as a certified welder at Pittsburgh Steel in Des Moines, retiring from Monarch Manufacturing of Adel. Kenny was a veteran of the Korean War, working as a tank mechanic on the front lines. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and hunt. He loved to farm and enjoyed all the animals and his tractor. Kenny was especially fond of the mountains. He and Lona traveled to every western state. He was most comfortable wearing his “bib overalls.” Kenny was a great storyteller. He had a way of painting a picture as he described his family experiences, which always brought about tons of laughter. Kenny was an avid gardener and canned much of his fruit and vegetables. He loved spending time with family, especially the grandkids.

Kenny leaves the following to celebrate his life: wife Lona Burden of Redfield; children Kent Burden, Michael Burden, Cindy Burden and Debbie Burden, all of Des Moines; sisters Bernadine Camp of The Colony, Texas, Dixie Thompson, Marilyn Spencer and Shirley Allen, all of Winterset, and Tina Brommel of Des Moines; brothers Verle Thompson Jr. and Billy Thompson of Des Moines, Jerry Thompson of Derby; sisters-in-law Mary McCleary of Des Moines and Georgina Estes of Dexter; and seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Dean Burden, Raymond Thompson, Merlin McCleary, Richard Thompson, Boyd Thompson and Jack Thompson.

The Best
God saw him getting tired, and cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around him and whispered, “Come with me.”
With tearful eyes we watched him and saw him pass away.
Although we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
The clock of life is wound but once, and no one has the power,
To tell when the hands will stop at a late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own. Live, love, work with a will.
Place no faith in tomorrow, for the clock may then be still.
Memories are souvenirs our hearts collect throughout the years.”

Funeral services were held Monday, March 19, at Kuhn Funeral Home in Dexter with Pastor Mark Austin of Des Moines officiating. Special music included Just As I Am, Me And God, Hurt, and Something To Be Proud Of. Pallbearers were Scot Baker, Brant McElwee, Brian Allen, John McElwee, Clinton McElwee, Jeff Allen and Kelly Thompson. Interment was at West Linn Cemetery in rural Linden with graveside military rites performed by Redfield American Legion Post 261.