Kevin Lynn KETCHUM

KETCHUM, KOENEN, SPITLER, OLSON, BRIOLA, FISHER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/6/2013 at 16:53:33

June 7, 1956 --- April 3, 2013

BELMOND — Kevin L. Ketchum, 56, of Belmond, died, Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond, following a year-long battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family. Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, April 6, 2013, 10:30 a.m., at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1207 Third St. N.E., Belmond. Father Nils Hernandez will be officiating. Burial will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, near Belmond. Visitation will be on Friday from 4 to 7 a.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continues one hour prior to the services at church Saturday. The family suggests those wishing to express their sympathies through a card or memorial in Kevin’s name consider Hospice of Wright County, Belmond-Klemme Schools Scholarship Foundations I or II, or to a charity of their own choice.

Kevin Lynn Ketchum, the son, of Robert and Inez (Koenen) Ketchum, was born June 7, 1956, at Belmond. He grew up in Rowan and attended Belmond Community Schools, graduating from Belmond High School with the class of 1974. During his school years Kevin was involved in a variety of activities. He especially excelled in the sport of wrestling.

Kevin was united in marriage to Marcia Spitler, on July 21, 1979, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Their union was blessed with a daughter, Nikki, and a son, Mark. Following their marriage the couple made their home in Belmond where they worked and raised their children. Kevin was employed in maintenance at Eaton Corp. in Belmond. He later spent a number of years as an employee of Kinseth’s Plumbing and Heating in Belmond, before eventually working as an employee/owner at Packard Electric Inc. Kevin enjoyed his vocation and the people he worked with throughout the years. Foremost in his life was his family, and the precious memories and times they had together during his life’s journey. He and Marcia looked forward to raising their children together and taking them on family vacations and creating lifetime memories. Kevin enjoyed spectating at Nikki and Mark’s numerous events and activities and was their number one fan. In more recent times he couldn’t wait to spend time with his granddaughter, Lilly, who was “the Apple of His eye!.” Kevin absolutely relished spending times with his family and friends. Whether at a family gathering or an afternoon spent on the golf course with his friends, he just loved to be around people. Kevin absolutely loved to be outdoors and enjoyed all that nature had to offer. In the earlier years of his life he might have been found climbing the banks of a creek bottom checking his trap lines or in the duck blind on a frosty fall morning, as he peaked at the sunrise and waited for the first rush of wings overhead.

Another life-long passion was fishing. Whether an afternoon spent on the waters of Lake Cornelia or a more distant fishing trip, Kevin was in his element. He enjoyed gardening and was an excellent cook. Kevin was an avid woodworker and made many one-of-a-kind projects. He was very meticulous in many aspects of his life, be it, his well-manicured lawn, beautifully maintained garden, or his spotless fishing boat. Kevin loved to watch sports. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers. Kevin loved the simple things of life: friends, family, food, and fellowship. He loved to socialize and in recent years looked forward to Thursday evening “Board Meetings” with his family and friends at Cattleman’s. He looked forward to new adventures. A favorite motto he would share was, “you get out of life what you put into it!.”

His life journey and memory will be cherished in the hearts and minds of his loving wife and life partner, Marcia Ketchum, Belmond, daughter, Nikki (Matt) Olson and their daughter, Lilly, Mason City; his son, Mark Ketchum, Belmond; his sisters, Julie Ketchum, Belmond, and Jody Ketchum and companion Steve Briola, Aurora, Colo.; father and mother-in-law, Jack and Mary Ann Spitler, Belmond; sister-in-law, Pat (Mark) Fisher, Clarion, brother-in-law, Paul (Missy) Spitler, Belmond; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and countless other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his father, Robert Ketchum and his mother, Inez Ketchum. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
April 5, 2013