Born Aug 8, 1935 to Ira Wilson Ikenberry and Sylvia Louise (Mason) Ikenberry, Kenneth spent his childhood in the family home at Baldwin, Ks, with his 4 siblings.
Kenneth (Kenny) married his high school sweetheart, Charlotte Lorraine (Dillon) Ikenberry, on May 28, 1954. They celebrated 68 years of marriage & it was clear to all who knew them, that she was the love of his life, as he was hers.
Kenny was always active and played many sports during his life. He played football & basketball in school, baseball as a young man after marriage and enjoyed fishing as his family grew. He became an enthusiastic golfer in his mid-life and continued till his health began to fail.
Ken worked many jobs throughout his full life. Construction in his first working years, where he took part in the building of Allen Fieldhouse. He worked at Stoneback’s Appliance, and later at Rueter Organ Company for several years. He finished his full-time working career when he retired from Kresgee/Aeroquip, in a 6mo assignment in Arkansas in 1991, at age 55. After retirement he continued to work part-time at Alvamar Golf Course, both mowing and doing maintenance. He loved being outdoors and this allowed him to keep active, earn money, and make his golf passion more affordable. Ken and Charlotte loved square dancing, socializing and spending time with family. Ken was a volunteer at LMH for several years.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years Charlotte Lorraine (Dillon) Ikenberry, three daughters, Susan (Robert) Priest, Cynthia (Brian) Cruse & Patricia Ikenberry, and five grandchildren, Kenneth Priest, Kerry (Colton) Mattson, Cole (Heather White) Cruse, Calee (Eric) Yowell, & Loretta Ikenberry. He was also a great-grandfather to four; Aubree Penfold & Harper Mattson, Madelynn Kellogg, Sorrel Weil and an eagerly anticipated sibling for Sorrel in early 2023. He has numerous nieces and nephews who he enjoyed so much and adopted as they lost parents of their own.
Kenneth was a wonderful, loving husband and father. His guidance was sought many times over the years on matters large and small and he always offered his help to family and friends for any project. He was a very artistic person and joined a woodcarving club later in life, where he created many wonderful woodcarvings, that his family cherish. Most loved were the old fashioned Santas that will certainly pass down in our family throughout generations to come.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Ira & Sylvia, his siblings, Helen (Selmer) Torkleson, Dorothy (Arvin) Powell, Clifford (Dora Ann) Ikenberry, in-laws Thomas & Rosa Dillon, all of Charlotte’s siblings, and his oldest grandson, Kenneth Robert Priest, as well as many beloved friends who have passed before him.
Friends may attend a visitation held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home from 6 pm to 8 pm Thursday, Nov 17th, where the family will receive them.
The family suggests memorial contributions to LMH Health Cancer Center Expansion, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
