HARDING, Kenneth Ivel 1920-2000

HARDING, BROWN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/17/2010 at 22:23:33

#1:

KENNETH IVEL HARDING

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Kenneth Ivel Harding, 80, formerly of Mason City, died on Friday, November 10, 2000, at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 18, at the Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Ted Stowers of the United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be at St. Ansgar Cemetery.

Kenneth was born on July 1, 1920, in Riceville, Iowa, to Ivel and Merle (Brown) Harding. He graduated from Riceville High School in Riceville.

He was employed in Riceville and St. Ansgar Electric & Appliance in the late '40s to early '60s. He was manager in sales and service in Charles City, Waterloo, Albert Lea and Spencer stores. Kenneth retired from Mason City Tile & Marble, but continued to service sewing machines until his health failed.

Kenneth served in the U.S. Army Air Force, serving from 1942 to 1948. He entered the service at Camp Dodge, Iowa on October 21, 1942. He worked for Air Transport base as mechanic on B-25; C-47; C-64 and L-5 aircraft. He was on flying status as aerial engineer for 25 months in China-Burma-India. He participated in the China-Central-Burma and India-Burma battles and campaigns.

He was entitled to wear a Victory Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon and four overseas bars. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the 1352nd AAF Base Unit. He was a member of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association of Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Maxine Newhouse, and longtime friend, Frances Peshak.

Kenneth is survived by one sister, Doris Wells of St. Ansgar; one nephew, Philip Wells of St. Ansgar; one niece, Pam Lundt of Alcester, S.D.; and several great-nieces and nephews.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, (641) 736-4920.

[Mason City Globe Gazette, Nov. 16, 2000 -- from ncigs.org archives]
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#2:

Social Sec. Death Index says:

HARDING, KENNETH I.
b: 01 Jul 1920
d: 10 Nov 2000
(Verified)
age: 80
Res: 50461 (Osage, Mitchell, IA)
SSN: Iowa 478-12-7105