Huinker, Kenneth Paul 1932-2009
HUINKER, EINCK, VRBA, ELLICKSON, GASKILL, SMITH, KRAMER, KUENNEN, BRUESS, PRASKA, RICE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/9/2012 at 13:38:33
Kenneth Huinker, age 77, of Calmar, Iowa, died on Friday, July 03, 2009, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, Iowa, with Rev. Donald Hawes presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2009, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel in Calmar, Iowa. There will be a rosary at 4:00 and a scripture service at 6:00 on Monday. There will also be visitation after 10:00 at the church on Tuesday morning.
Kenneth Paul Huinker was born on May 9, 1932, the son of Leo and Mathilda (Einck) Huinker on the family farm near Festina, Iowa. Ken attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina and helped on the family farm. At the age of 17, he was drafted to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox. He played for a short time and returned to Festina. He married his life-long sweetheart, Aileen Vrba, on October 1, 1953, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, Iowa. Together they farmed until Ken was then drafted in the US Army, where he served in the Korean Conflict. After the service, they continued to farm south of Calmar for many years, retiring from farming in 1994. In recent years, due to Ken’s declining health, they lived in West Union, Vennejhem in Decorah and the last two years in Assisted Living at the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah. Ken loved playing baseball and played in the Festina, Fort Atkinson and Calmar Leagues, playing until he was 45 years old. He was always an avid Cub and Twins fan. One of Ken’s favorite things to do was to attend his children and grandchildren’s sport and school activities. Ken enjoyed playing cards and woodworking; making each grandchild wooden toys for Christmas for many years. Ken was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Catholic Order of the Foresters and the South Winn Country Club.
Ken’s survivors include his wife: Aileen Huinker, Decorah, IA. Three daughters: Darla (Glen) Ellickson, Decorah, IA; DeAnn Huinker, Milwaukee, WI and Debra (John) Huinker Gaskill, Cedar Rapids, IA. Two sons: Dave (Darcy) Huinker, Decorah, IA and Dale (Blanche Smith) Huinker, Reedsburg, WI. Eleven grandchildren: Trevor & Travis Huinker, Ian & Aubrey Ellickson, Chad Smith & Justin Huinker, Bryce & Morgan Kramer, Kendra, Evan & Cale Gaskill. Two sisters: Shirley Kuennen, Ossian, IA and Irene Bruess, Protivin, IA. One brother: Art (Ann) Huinker, Peosta, IA. Three sisters-in-law: Lori Huinker, Festina, IA, Shirley (Joe) Praska, Elma, IA and Mary Rice, Tripoli, IA, along with many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents: Leo and Mathilda (Einck) Huinker. His brother: Linus Huinker. Four brothers-in-law: Al Kuennen, Art Bruess, Roger Vrba and Larry Rice. Two nieces: Tammy Huinker and Susie Bruess.
Source: Schluter - Balik Funeral Home database
St. Aloysius Catholic cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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