Ken Bement

Kenneth D. Bement, 63, of Elgin, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at his home in Elgin, Iowa.

Kenneth Dean, the son of Paul and Paula (Hangartner) Bement, was born June 30, 1952 in West Union, Iowa.

He graduated from North High School, West Union, in 1970 and attended Iowa State University. 

Kenneth was united in marriage with Karen McNulty on August 1, 1970 at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union. To this union five children were born.

Ken was a custodian at North High School from 1971-1972 and served as Director of General Services at Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union, from 1972-1988. He then worked at AMPI in Fredericksburg, Iowa until the plant closed in 1996. 

After the closure, Ken earned a degree in Electrical Mechanical Technology from Western Wisconsin Technical College in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

He worked for Great Lakes Cheese in Wisconsin until 2000, when he moved to Elgin and resumed working for AMPI in Arlington, Iowa.  He worked for AMPI until 2013 when his health declined and he had to retire.

Ken enjoyed visiting people and he helped many people in Elgin with various things. 

He loved the outdoors and being near water. Ken and Karen made several trips to the Boundary Waters for canoeing and relaxing. They went dog sledding in Ely, Minnesota and enjoyed it immensely!  Ken enjoyed reading, biking, baseball and playing his guitar.  His greatest passion was fixing things, building and inventing things, and woodworking.

Ken is survived by his wife, Karen of Elgin; five children, Krista (Steve) Ward of Elgin; Chad (Marie) Bement of Pewaukee, Wisconsin; Heather (Jeff) Pape of Mason City, Iowa; Kellie Waugh of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Nicholas (Betsy) Bement of Ames, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Mason, Carson, and Emerson Ward; Jack and Drew Bement; Loren Yarrow; and Andy and Emily Pape; his mother, Paula Ege, of Hawkeye, Iowa; two brothers, Gary “Paul” (Tina) Bement of West Union, Iowa; and Jeremy (Lynn) Bement of Des Moines, Iowa; a sister, Kerrilee (Keith) Bunge in Seattle, Washington; nephews, Clint (Sarah) Bement of West Union; and Jonathon Bement of Des Moines; nieces, Sydney Bement of Des Moines, Iowa; and Katie (Kevin) Blau of Remer, Minnesota; and  several cousins; and his lifelong friends, Steve (Kay) Tope of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Paul Bement; his paternal grandparents, Guy Bement and Maude Morse; his maternal grandparents, Alpha and Vera Hangartner; and his lifelong friend, Steven Smith.

A Celebration of Life Gathering was held Saturday, November 7, 2015 from 9:30–11:30 am at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elgin, Iowa.

Memorials in Kenneth’s honor may be made to Parkinson’s Research Organization or Palmer Hospice.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elgin, Iowa helped the family.              45u45