Kenneth James SLOAN

SLOAN, BJORNSON, KREBS, BERGE, BATES, REHDER, KREBS-REHDER, MASON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/27/2014 at 13:20:37

May 15, 1948 --- August 13, 2013

Funeral services for Mr. Kenneth Sloan, 65, of Milford will be 10:30 am Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Good News Community Church in Okoboji, Iowa. Interment will be at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park, Iowa. Visitation will begin after 4 pm Friday, August 16, 2013 with the family present from 5-7 pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford.

Kenneth James Sloan was born May 15, 1948 to Marvin John George Sloan and Alice Irene (Bjornson) Sloan in Algona, Iowa. He grew up on a farm Northeast of Corwith, Iowa. His K-12 education was obtained in Corwith Wesley Public School graduating in 1966. Ken enrolled in engineering at Iowa State University in Ames. Two years of education were completed before he enlisted in the US Air Force in the fall of 1969. The technical training he received in Biloxi, MS utilized his natural talents to work with electricity and electronics and to teach. He was assigned to the North American Air Defense Command at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Fall, MT to work in Airborne Radio Control. After completing four years of duty he returned to Iowa and worked as a television and radio repair person at Plagman’s TV. In 1975 he returned to Iowa State University to complete his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education for Industry. In 1977 he was employed by Van Ladder Industries as the design manufacturing engineer in Spencer, IA. In 1980 he began employment at Brink’s Electric working with hazardous wiring specializing in agricultural settings. Enjoying innovation, he began work at Cycle Country/Okoboji Industries designing accessories for all terrain vehicles and a Shuttle for people who needed sturdy, stable personal transportation. He has two patents to his name. Pella Corp. hired him in 2001 to provide engineering support for the manufacturing processes. One of his designs is used nationally at Pella. He retired from Pella in Dec 2011.

July 19, 1970 he married Mary Louise Krebs in Lake Park, IA. They moved to Great Falls, MT for two years and moved to Milford in 1973. In 1975 they moved to Slater and back to Milford in 1977. As a follower of Christ, Ken was a member of the United Methodist Church in Corwith, Union Memorial Church in Milford, United Methodist Church in Slater and a founding member of Good News Community Church in Okoboji. Ken’s interests included traveling, teaching, researching and the challenge to fix anything. His greatest joys were to work and play with his children and grandchildren who he saw as gifts from God. His faith was demonstrated through his gentle kindness and unending support to help others. Ken died at the age of 65 on August 13, 2013 at Avera McKennan Hospital, in Sioux Falls, SD after experiencing a paralyzing stroke at home that day.

He is survived by his wife Mary; children Aaron Sloan and wife Carrie of Milford, IA, David and wife Leslie of Garner, IA, and Mark and wife Becky of Onawa, IA ; 7 grandchildren, Tori and Evan of Garner, Makenna, Caleb, Aubrey, and Josiah of Onawa and Elias of Milford. Sister-in-laws Jean Berge (Steve) of Iowa City, Ruth Bates of Manhattan, KS, Brother-in-law Bob Krebs (Jill) of Okoboji, and nine nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Birney and Betty Krebs-Rehder, sister-in-law Carol Mason and brother Steve.

http://www.turnerfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Kenneth-Sloan1480105/#!/Obituary