Kinseth, Kenneth Lyle -- 1918 - 2001

OLER, KINSETH, DEWAARD, SKINNER, DORR, ARMOUR, BUCHANAN

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2010 at 11:08:36

Decorah Journal, Thursday, May 10, 2001

Kenneth Lyle Kinseth

Kenneth Kinseth, 82, of Decorah, died Saturday, May 5, 2001 of complications from a stroke at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs.

Funeral services will be held today, Thursday, May 10 at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Thomas Miller officiating.

Organist is Pastor Marion Miller, and the congregation will sing "How Great Thou Art,'' "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" and "Amazing Grace."

Casket bearers are Ben Kinseth, Peter Kinseth, Aaron Mailey, Jason Mailey, Jack "In" Won and Matt Young. Honorary pallbearers are all of his friends.

Burial will be in the Lutheran Cemetery with full military rites by Helof-Holm Post No. 1977, Bernatz-Symonds Legion Post No. 163 and D.A.V. Hamre-Giesen Chapter No. 8.

Fjelstul Funeral Home of Decorah handled arrangements.

Kenneth Lyle Kinseth was born June 24, 1918 in Alexander, Iowa to Bernald and Neva (Oler) Kinseth.

He graduated from Alexander High School in 1936 and attended Iowa State University for a short time.

Kenneth Kinseth served in the Air Force during World War II. After his service, he was (civilian) Superintendent of the Air Force base in Anchorage, Alaska.

He married Cyrena DeWaard March 25, 1953 in Kanawha, Iowa.

Kenneth Kinseth lived in the Belmond, Iowa area from his birth until 1966, except for his education and military service. He was a successful businessman who had owned and operated several businesses throughout his life. He started Kinseth Plumbing and Heating in Belmond and developed it into a large mechanical contracting firm. He developed several hotels. One of his most notable developments was the Cliff House in Decorah, which he sold in 1976.

He moved his family to Decorah in 1966 and sold the plumbing business to his brothers that same year.

He was founder of the Kinseth Hospitality Companies that had grown to operate several hotels and restaurants throughout the Midwest. He also developed and operated apartments, housing and golf courses.

He was a member of the Elks Club, the Oneota Golf and Country Club and the Silvercrest Golf and Country Club in Decorah.

Survivors include his wife, Cyrena Kinseth; one daughter, Linda and Keith Skinner of Council Bluffs; three sons: Leslie and Alisa Kinseth of Clear Lake, Iowa; Bruce and Lisa Kinseth of Coralville, Iowa and Gary and Darla Kinseth of Mason City and 10 grandchildren.

Additional survivors include a very special person who was like a son who lived with the Kinseth family for about three years, Jack "In" and Tammy Won of La Habra, Calif.; three brothers, Ronald and Marion Kinseth; Roger Kinseth and Larry and Sherri Kinseth, all of Belmond, Iowa and three sisters, Maxine Dorr and Avon Armour, both of Belmond and Artie Buchanan of Mason City.

Kenneth Lyle Kinseth was preceded in death by his parents.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.