Funeral services for Kenneth G. Gayken will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. The Rev. Kent Otterman will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place in Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors will be performed by local veteran organizations.

Kenneth passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, at Hidden Creek Estates in Albert Lea. He was 96.

Kenneth G. Gayken was born June 4, 1922, outside of Crystal Lake, Iowa, to John and Else (Attig) Gayken.

At age 4, their house burned down and they moved to Albert Lea. In Albert Lea, he was confirmed at Salem Lutheran, and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1942.

He married Lois (Bonnerup) on April 30, 1944, at Salem Lutheran. The couple was blessed with four children.

Kenny served his country in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946, where he spent most of his time at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After his honorable discharge, the family moved to a farm two miles west of Glenville, where he farmed for 30 years. He also worked at Miami Margarine for several years. He lived at the farm until he moved to Hidden Creek Estates in 2013.

Kenny was an active member at First Lutheran Church in Glenville, where he served on the church council. He was also a member of the local American Legion and Eagles Club. Ken enjoyed driving bus for Glenville Schools for nine years. When he wasn’t volunteering or working, Ken enjoyed dancing, bingo, reading books, working on old tractors and, most importantly, time spent with his family.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Lois; both parents; daughter in-law, Janene Gayken; son in-law, Herm Haayer; granddaughter, Jessica Gayken; siblings Orville Gayken and Fern Sorenson; and several brothers and sisters in-law.

Those left to carry on Ken’s legacy include his children Richard (Julie) Gayken, Ronald Gayken, Pamela Haayer and Mark (Marcia) Gayken; eight grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; sister, Violet Pyka; sisters-in-law Velma Bonnerup and Maxine Bye; as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

The family would like to thank all the staff at Hidden Creek Estates, the Rev. Kent Otterman and St. Croix Hospice for the loving and wonderful care they gave to Ken.

Kenny will be greatly missed by family and friends. Blessed be his memory.