Kenneth Alan Koele

KENNETH ALAN KOELE was born April 19, 1943 to Henry and Anna (Valentine) Koele in Denver, Colorado. When he was four years old his family moved to a farm near Sanborn, Iowa and in 1954 they moved to another farm near Melvin, Iowa. The family then lived in the Ocheyedan, Iowa area before returning to Denver. Kenneth attended school at Collegeview School through the eighth grade then went on to Sheridan High School and graduated in 1962. Ken went to work at Montgomery Ward as a clerk and supervisor. On March 29th, 1963 he was united in marriage to Mary Oleson at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver. The couple made their first home in the Denver area and Ken began working for the Crane Plumbing and Heating Supply Company as a salesman. In 1965 the family moved to Matlock, Iowa and Ken worked on a farm. They returned to Denver a short time later and he returned to his job at the Crane Company which had now become the PlainsCo. Ken's love of the land brought the Koele family to Minnesota in 1977. They purchased a farm south of Holland, Minnesota and began farming the land as well as milking cows and raising sheep. Ken also continued with his sales position at the PlainsCo and was now located out of their office in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In 1992 Ken exited the milking operation and continued caring for his sheep and land. In October of 2012 Ken was diagnosed with colon cancer, which later spread to his lungs and bones.

On Friday, July 26, 2013 while surrounded by his family, Ken went to be with his Lord at the age of 70 years, three months and seven days.

Ken was a lifelong member of the American Reformed Church in Woodstock and had served as Deacon, Elder, and RCYF Sponsor. He also taught Sunday School for a number of years and sang in the men's choir. He served on the Southwest Minnesota Pro Life Board and the Rock County Township Board. Ken's work on the farm and with his church was very fulfilling to his life. He had a true love of people, especially children, and found many blessing in all of the relationships he had forged over the years.

Ken will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Mary; his three sons, Russell Koele and his wife Carmon of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kevin Koele and his fianc, Andrea of Holland, Minnesota, and Kurt Koele and his wife Amy Jo of Woodstock, Minnesota; three step-grandchildren, Chase, Michelle, and Miranda; two step-great-grandsons, Jaylen and Loghan; three sisters, Donna (Norman) Bell of Denver, Colorado, Linda Miller of Denver, Colorado, and Kathy (Charles) Oleson of Valley Springs, South Dakota; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Anna.

Memorials are preferred to the American Reformed Church in Woodstock or Pipestone County Hospice.