Kenneth John Rosene 1914-2012

ROSENE GIRARD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/1/2013 at 23:32:53

Sioux City Journal
30 December 2012

Kenneth John Rosene, 98, of Sioux City passed away on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at a Sioux City Hospital.

A simple service will be held 1 p.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time Monday. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Kenneth was born July 6, 1914, in Le Mars Iowa, to John and Emma Rosene. His family moved to Leeds to a house on Van Buren Street when he was young. After graduation from Central High School in 1932, he worked as an auto mechanic and at Fairmount Dairy in Sioux City as well as other jobs. Finally deciding on a career, he attended Technical School in Sidney, Neb., and graduated as a machinist and as it turned out, that was his life's work.

He worked at Concrete Pipe Machinery Company for many years and retired from there only to be asked to help Phillips Kiln Service since the owner was aware of his special machining skills. He worked on many of their most technical projects. He retired from Phillips after several more years and helped them out from time to time when they needed a really special piece of work done.

Ken married Edna Girard in 1942. Together in 1947, they built their own house at 403 Clifton Street. Ken really built that house well, and he was living there until just the day before he died. Edna died 18 years ago. He then met Juanita Carstens and they were partners during the last years.

Ken's passions were flying, boating, fishing, hunting and dancing. He became interested in becoming a pilot when he was just 10 years old. Charles Lindberg flew into Sioux City and when Ken saw that plane, he was hooked. He got his private pilot's license before long and flew single engine small planes for 75 years. He received an Award Plaque for more than 50 years of piloting, although he went way beyond that. Finally for his 96th birthday, he took his last flight as a pilot, but didn't sell his plane. He went for flights in that plane after that and was airborne for one last ride in May 2012 thanks to Gene Martin in South Sioux City and a special thanks to Shilo who was his caregiver the past 9 months.

Ken is survived by two children, Linda (Keith) Iverson of Sioux City, and Dale (Gerri) Rosene of Lakewood Colo.; two grandchildren, Nicole (Travis) Weitzel and Casey Kennedy; and one great-granddaughter, Ruby.

Ken very much appreciated the "Senior" Center as he insisted on calling it even after the name change a few years ago. He would always talk about how great the people were at the center. In lieu of flowers, Ken would like donations to be sent to the Center for Active Generations.