Forde, Kenneth Ervin -- 1940 - 2005
FORDE, MIKELSON, NATVIG, KOHLER, OTT
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/24/2012 at 11:26:10
Kenneth E. Forde, age 64 of Decorah, IA, died on Saturday, December 17, 2005 at Oneota Riverview Care Facility in Decorah of pancreatic cancer.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, December 21, 2005 at Decorah Lutheran Church by Rev. James Glesne, with burial in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah with full military honors.
Visitation is on Tuesday, November 20, 2005 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 PM at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be given to the Organ Fund at Decorah Lutheran Church or the Heifer International Program through Decorah Lutheran Church.
Kenneth Ervin Forde was born December 31, 1940 at home in Highland Township, Winneshiek County, IA, the son of Lewis and Myrtle (Mikelson) Forde. He was baptized on February 9, 1941 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church and confirmed on October 6, 1955 at Decorah Lutheran Church. He attended rural school in Highland Township and then Decorah High School, graduating with the Class of 1959.
After graduating from high school, Ken worked for the Herschim Construction Company of Cherokee, IA, working on the construction of the Decorah Lutheran Church. He then was an installer for Western Electric. He entered the U.S. Army in 1963, was an instructor in radio communications systems at Fort Gordon, GA, and was discharged in the fall of 1965. He then attended University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and resumed employment with Western Electric.
Ken was united in marriage to Jean Ann Natvig on June 10, 1966 at Saude Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Lawler, IA by Rev. M.E. Tweit. To this union, two children were born: Lois and Eric.
Ken and Jean then started farming in Decorah Township and raised dairy and beef cows and hogs for many years. He was active in many things, including Dairy Herd Improvement Association, Farm Bureau board member, trustee for Decorah Township for many years, and was assigned to the Rural Fire Protection Committee. He was also a very active member of Decorah Lutheran Church, serving on the Council and as an Usher. . More recently, Ken had assisted his wife and friends in decorating the church for the holidays and for Nordic Fest. Ken had a lifelong interest in music and was a member of the Luren Singing Society for over 20 years. He enjoyed the companionship of the card club for all of his married life and liked to travel.
He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on November 2, 2004 and he lived well beyond the prognosis for this disease.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, and an infant twin brother, Kermit.
Ken is survived by his wife, Jean Forde of Decorah; one daughter, Lois (Philip) Kohler of Cincinnati, OH; one son, Eric (Alyssa) Forde of Elkhart, IA; two grandsons, E. Forde Kohler and Samuel P. Forde; one sister, Linda (Ronald) Ott of Lake Elmo, MN and one brother, Norman (Karen) Forde of Decorah.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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