Kenneth Elmer BAILEY

BAILEY, LEHS, HEISMAN, DUNCAN, EDWARDS, DREGER, RYDER, HARRIS, HAUPT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/1/2007 at 00:15:44

November 1, 2005

Kenneth Elmer Bailey, 86, of Rowan, died on Saturday, October 29, 2005, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, November 1, 2005, at the United Church of Rowan, with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister officiating. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery, Rowan. Wilma Aldrich was the organist and Annie Avery the soloist. Ushers were Larry Aldrich, Kevin Hadley and Marvin Smith. Casket bearers were grandsons, Chris Bailey, Andy Bailey, Bob Bailey, Ben Bailey, Steven Bailey, Joe Bailey, Alex Lehs, Josh Lehs, Johnathon Bailey, Justin Bailey and Scott Bailey. Honorary casket bearers were granddaughters, Shelly Heisman, Jennifer Duncan, Angie Bailey, Susan Bailey, Wendy Edwards, Amy Dreger and Sherri Bailey.

Kenneth, the son of Elmer and Lucy Ryder Bailey, was born on July 2, 1919 near Rowan. He attended country school and then quit to help his father on the farm. He married Ardyce Harris at the United Methodist Church in Clarion on September 1, 1940. They made their home on the family farm near Rowan. In December 1975 they moved into town. Kenneth was a jack of all trades, farmer, carpenter and electrician. He built kitchen cabinets and many homes, including his own. He enjoyed bowling, woodworking and building grandfather clocks. Collecting antique John Deere tractors and traveling were some of Kenneth's pastimes. He enjoyed going south for the winter, especially to Arizona. He was a member of both churches in Rowan. He was chairman of the finance committee for the new church building and was instrumental in this project. Kenneth was a member of the Lion's Club for 43 years, serving as President and Vice-President.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Edwin, Lloyd and Merle; and sister, Leona. Kenneth is survived by his wife; daughter, Cindy (Dean) Lehs of Clear Lake; sons, Larry (Carol) of Belmond, Dennis (Donna) of Rowan, Ronnie (Connie) of St. Joseph, Missouri and Marv (Dee Dee) of Klemme; twenty-one grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brother, Elmer Jr. (Donna) of Leavenworth, Kansas; sister-in-law, Dorothy Bailey of Hampton; and brother-in-law, Robert Haupt of Belmond.

©Belmond Independent 2005