Kenneth Eugene Elsbury 1915-1995

ELSBURY, OWENS, MARTIN, SAUTER, GOETTSCH, LEACH

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Date: 7/4/2025 at 15:15:05

Funeral services tor Kenneth E. Elsbury were held at 3:00 p m. Monday, December 18, 1995, at the United Methodist Church in Sutherland, Iowa, with Rev. Dean McPherson officiating. The color guard was Galen VanderPol, Harry Brink, Bob Larson and Dennis Wohlert.

Interment was at the Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland, Iowa, under the direction of the Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home. The committal will be held at a later date.

Kenneth Eugene Elsbury was born October 15, 1915 at Ames, Iowa on Duff Ave. in Story County. He was the son of Edwin C and Florence Owens Elsbury. He and his twin brother, Robert, were the youngest of 6 children born to this union.

He graduated from high school in Rockwell, Iowa in 1933, and upon graduation came to Sutherland, Iowa, where he was a general laborer for the rest of his working days. He retired from work in 1977. He volunteered into the Army during WW II serving in active duty from July 20, 1941 until his separation from the service on Dec 10, 1945. He served in Central Europe. He was decorated with the American Campaign Medal, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and with a Bronze Star, Silver Battle Star, Good Conduct Medal and a W.W. II Victory Medal. He was a corporal with Co. B, 691st Tank Destroyer Bn.

He married Isabelle W. Martin in Sheldon, Iowa on December 26, 1945, and within a year became the adoptive father to his wife's deceased sister's children, Sandra Sue and Fredric Jerold Sauter. Their last names remained as Sauter by the request of their real father Dick Sauter.

His wife preceded him in death on April 22, 1989 in Primghar. The last few years he had been a resident of the Millie's Rest Home in Sutherland. He passed away there on Wednesday. December 13, 1995 reaching the age of 80 years, 1 month and 28 days.

He was baptized in the Methodist faith and became a member of the United Methodist Church in Sutherland in 1979 and was a member of the Sutherland American Legion Post 152.

Kenneth is survived by one daughter Sandra Sue and her husband Donald Goettsch of Sutherland and one son Fredric Jerold and his wife Donna Sauter of Madrid, Iowa, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren, also a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, four brothers, Wayne, Harold, Howard, and his twin, Robert, and one sister, Mabel Leach.

Sutherland Courier 21 Dec 1995