Kenneth Elmer Walston
Kenneth Elmer Walston
Kenneth Elmer Walston
July 27, 1924 – April 18, 2015
New Sharon, Iowa | Age 90
Kenneth Walston, 90, of New Sharon passed away Saturday evening, April 18, 2015 at the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.
Kenneth Elmer Walston, son of Elmer and Mary (Lake) Walston, was born on July 27, 1924 in Dallas County, Iowa, at his Grandfather, John Walston’s farm. Kenny was the first child of 6 born to Elmer & Mary.
His parents purchased a farm 9 miles SW of New Sharon in 1926 and Kenny lived on that farm until he retired in 1987.
Kenny attended Elm Grove Country School and then Lacey High School for 3 years, until he had to leave to help his dad with the farming. Later, in winter of 1970, he attended GED night classes at North Mahaska High School and received his diploma.
On May 28, 1948, he married Joyce Louise Adkins at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Kenny & Joyce adopted a 19 day old baby girl in February 1958 and named her Susan Joy.
In 1945, he joined partnership with his dad farming. Kenny’s brother Bill came into the partnership and later his brothers Carrol & Gary started farming also. They all had their own farms and took great pride, love and commitment in caring for the land. They built terraces, ponds, dikes, and did tiling to be true stewards of their land.
Kenny served on boards of many organizations through the years, including Mahaska County Farm Bureau for several years and Mahaska County Farm Services for 9 years. He served 30 years on ASCS committees, with 20+ of those years on the county committee. He served several years on Elm Grove School Board and he spent many years serving as a member in the First Christian Church of New Sharon as deacon and elder, on the church board and other various committees. He also bowled several years on 2 leagues and loved playing softball in New Sharon through the 1950’s.
Kenny and Joyce retired from the farm in December of 1987 and moved into their new home in New Sharon with their granddaughter Kendra.
The farm was rented to Gary DeGoey and Kenny enjoyed a pleasant and long retirement due to Gary’s hard work, honesty and trustfulness. The Farm was sold to Gary and Cindy in 1997/2005.
After retiring, Kenny served on more boards in New Sharon. Those boards included: Prairie Homes, Capri Theater, Friends Cemetery. He was a charter member at Prairie Knolls Country Club, where he spent many years playing golf with his friends.
Most weekday mornings he spent an hour with his coffee buddies at the fire station. He also spent many years creating beautiful walnut furniture from the trees grown on his farm to give to family and friends. Kenny and Joyce also enjoyed traveling across the USA & Canada.
He was a good neighbor and a friend to everyone, always willing to help in any way he could. His home was always open to family & friends for a cup of coffee, a game of cards, or a 2 week visit. Christmas Eve was the special time of the year with 30-40 family members coming every year since 1961. It was always great fun. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and cousin to his and Joyce’s extended families and many friends. He was an honorable man in the true meaning of one.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce of almost 67 years; daughter, Susan Walton of Montezuma; granddaughter, Kendra (& Charlie) Charbonneau of New Sharon; great-grandson, Taylor Kenneth Charbonneau of New Sharon; One sister, Iva (& Dean) Anderson of New Sharon; 2 sister-in-laws, Jimolene Walston of New Sharon and Berdene Walston of What Cheer; 1 brother-in-law, Les Septer of New Sharon; 9 nephews; 14 nieces; and many great nephews & nieces and their children.
He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer; mother, Mary; one older ½ sister and husband, Darlene (& Devern) VanGorp; one older ½ brother & wife, Bert (& Geni) Leeper; 3 brothers, Carrol Walston, Wilmore “Bill” Walston, and Gary Walston; 1 sister, Norma Patterson; his father and mother in-law, William & Margaret Adkins, 2 sister-in-laws Georgia “Puddie” Septer and Mary Walston; 1 brother-in-law & wife Arnold (& Barbara) Adkins; 1 nephew; 2 nieces; and 3 great nieces.
Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at the New Sharon First Christian Church.
Burial will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon.
Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the church with the family present from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Sharon First Christian Church or Hospice.
