Schlichte Kenneth C. 1955-2006

SCHLICHTE, AHLERS, BERNER

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/24/2011 at 14:45:58

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Kenneth C. "Ken" Schlichte, 50, of rural Merrill, died Tuesday May 23, 2006, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, after suffering an apparent heart attack at his farm.

Kenneth Clifford Schlichte was born Oct. 1, 1955 in Orange City, the son of Gregory and Alice (Ahlers) Schlichte. He grew up near Craig, attended Craig Country School and graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1974. Ken then attended Reich School of Auctioneering at Mason City. He also had completed Real Estate School to acquire his real estate license in 1985.

On Sept. 10, 1977, Ken married his high school sweetheart Cindy Berner of Merrill. The couple made their home on a farm near Merrill.

Ken was best known as an auctioneer and was the owner of Plymouth Auction Company in Le Mars and was a realtor for Rich Janssen Realty in Le Mars. He was a Livestock Production Specialist for Farmland and now Land O'Lakes through the Craig Co-Op. Ken also enjoyed raising and showing his Belgian Blue Cattle.

Ken was a highly active auctioneer, volunteering his talents at many benefit auctions and functions such as Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the Boys and Girls Home of Sioux City, Festival of Trees and many others. He strongly believed in supporting his community and helping others.

Ken was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Struble. He was also a member of Plymouth County Board of Realtors, Plymouth County Farm Bureau, and the National Cattlemen's Association. He was a past president of the Le Mars Community Booster Club. Ken also was on the board of directors of the National Belgian Blue Cattle Association and President of the Iowa Association. Over the years, he was active in showing cattle at the national and state levels, receiving many awards.

Ken really enjoyed playing fast pitch softball and was a pitcher for several teams in the area for many seasons in the 70s, 80s and 90s, qualifying for Nationals many times.

Survivors include his wife Cindy Berner-Schlichte of rural Merrill; two daughters: Kari Gengler and her husband, Curt of Merrill and Kylie Schlichte of rural Merrill; His father, Greg Schlichte of Craig; three brothers and their wives, Denny and Cindy Schlichte of Le Mars, Jerry and Nancy Schlichte of Brunsville, and William and Beth Schlichte of Le Mars; two sisters, Jeannine Schlichte of Le Mars and Joyce Ludwigs of Craig; his mother-in-law, Lois Berner of Merrill and her friend Darrell Peters of Akron; a brother-in-law, Dr. Terry Berner and his wife, Karen of Salt Lake City, Utah; his best friend Kevin Arnold and his wife Tammy of rural Merrill; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother Alice Schlichte on March 25, 2006; a sister Karen in infancy; and his father-in-law Herschel Berner.

Funeral Services will be at 1:05 p.m. Saturday at the Le Mars Community Wellness Center on the former Westmar College campus, with the Rev. Dan Greving, Pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Struble and the Rev. Mike Janes, pastor of United Methodist Church of Le Mars, officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Merrill. Following the interment, there will be a Celebration of Life and luncheon with the family in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center.

Visitation will start at 3:05 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, where there will be a rosary at 4:05 p.m. and a Scriptural prayer service at 7:05 p.m. Visitation will resume at the Community Wellness Center on Saturday afternoon for one hour prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars.