Kenneth L. KINSETH

KINSETH, WON, DORR, ARMOUR, BUCHANAN, OLER, DEWAARD, SOMA, SKINNER, MAILEY, YOUNG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/22/2006 at 11:54:41

Kenneth L. Kinseth, 82, of Decorah, died Saturday, May 5, 2001 at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, of complications from a stroke. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 10, at the First Lutheran Church with Rev. Thomas Miller officiating. Burial was at the Lutheran Cemetery, with full military rites. Casket bearers were Ben Kinseth, Peter Kinseth, Aaron Mailey, Jason Mailey, Jack "In" Won, Matt Young.

Kenneth was born June 24, 1918, the son of Bernold O. and Neva (Oler) Kinseth. He graduated from Alexander High School in 1936 and attended Iowa State University for a short period of time. He served in the Air Force during WW II. Following that he was superintendent of the Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska as a civilian. He married Cyrena K. DeWaard on March 25, 1953 in Kanawha. Except for his military service time, Kenneth lived in Belmond from 1918 until 1966. He moved to Decorah in 1966. He was a successful businessman: owning and operating Kinseth Plumbing and Heating in Belmond, which he later sold to his brothers; he developed several hotels, among them the Cliff House in Decorah; founder of the Kinseth Hospitality Companies, operating several hotels and restaurants throughout the Midwest; he also developed and operated apartment housing and golf courses. He was a member of the Elk's Club, Oneota Golf and Country Club, and the Silver Crest Golf and Country Club in Decorah.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; and by his first wife, Ardell Soma. Survivors are his wife, Cyrena; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Keith Skinner of Council Bluffs and their children, Aaron Mailey, Jason Mailey, Shana Young and Laura Mailey; three sons and daughters-in-law, Leslie and Alisa Kinseth of Clear Lake and their daughter, Ashley Kinseth, Bruce and Lisa Kinseth of Coralville and their children, Ben, Peter, and Kelly Kinseth, Gary and Darla Kinseth of Mason City and their children, Tristan and Kyra Kinseth; a very special person, like a son who lived with the Kinseth family for three years, Jack "In" Won (Tommy) of LaHabra, California; three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Roland and Marian Kinseth of Belmond, Roger Kinseth, and Larry and Shari Kinseth, all of Belmond; three sisters, Maxine Dorr and Avon Armour, both of Belmond, and Artie Buchanan of Mason City.

May 17, 2001
©Belmond Independent 2001