BALL, Kenneth M. (1926-2016)

BALL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/6/2017 at 23:55:13

Kenneth Martin Ball
(March 27, 1926 - April 23, 2016)

Kenneth Martin Ball, son of Frank Ball and Dorothy Cook, was born March 27th, 1926 in Commerce, Iowa. He graduated from the eighth grade from Grant’s School in rural Madison County. He married Dorothy Bush September 29th, 1946.
On June 20th, 1944 the Trailways bus took him from Winterset to Fort Des Moines to be inducted into the US Army. From there he went to basic training at Fort Riley in Kansas. After basic he was stationed at Fort Ord in California where as a staff sergeant he was shipped to Burma for the Central Burma China Offensive. He was in the horse cavalry with Merrill’s Marauders. He received his Honorable Discharge on July 5th 1946.
Ken was a hardworking man all his life. He started when he was 13 years old on a farm near Guthrie Center. From there he worked at a creamery and a couple gas stations until he was hired by Marquette Cement Plant in 1953 as a welder/repairman. He retired in 1983 from Monarch Cement Plant. He was a proud member of the United Cement Lime Gypsum and Allied Workers Local 287. He enjoyed his retirement with his wife on their acreage near Indianola. Ken then started his own portable welding service until a position opened up at the Warren County Conservation Commission. This was a dream job for him. He built many things out of wood and metal using his welding experience. He maintained many of the parks and trails throughout Warren County. He especially loved hauling visitors to the Hickory Hills Hoedown by a tractor and wagon. When his legs couldn’t keep up with his mind, WCCC arranged for him to drive the bike trails in a golf cart picking up trash.
Ken loved being with family and friends. He enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, playing cards, croquet, watching the hot air balloons, and long drives. He was known to pop in unannounced.
He is survived by his four sons, Larry (Jane) Ball of Johnston, Mike (Linda) Ball of Oceanside, CA, Scott/Jeff (Wendy) Ball of Johnston, and Kenny (Michele) Ball of Winterset; four grandchildren, Nicole Fleming (Lee Gates), Kendra (Storm) Anderson, Craig (Raquel) Ball, Karen (Steve) Raba; four step-granddaughters; Lori Tran, Jessica Tran, Melissa (Alex) Grett and Tiffany Gillaspy; 12 great-grandchildren, Kenzie, Hailey, Kylie and Jori Fleming, Bradin and Talen Ball, Daniel, Peyton and Steele Anderson, Ian Ball, Alexis Raba and Bishop Grett; sister; Mary Hope of Winterset and many more loved ones.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, his loving wife, a sister-in-law and a brother-in-law and longtime friend, Ilka Harvey.
Ken passed away Saturday, April 23, 2016 at West Bridge Care and Rehabilitation Center in Winterset, IA. Graveside services with Military Rites will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30 in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to services at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. Memorials may be made in Kenneth’s name to Warren County Conservation, HCI Hospice Care Services or the Alzheimer’s Association. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, [http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]