Kenneth “Ken” Mellema, age 77 of Rock Rapids, IA died Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at his residence in Rock Rapids, IA.
Funeral service will be 2:30PM Saturday, January 25th at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dan Haggar officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery at Rock Rapids, IA.
Visitation will be Friday, January 24th from 2-8:00PM with family present from 6-8PM at First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids.
Ken Mellema, son of Peter and Johanna (Schenk) Mellema was born on February 11, 1936, at their family home, 4 miles northeast of Rock Rapids, Iowa, during the 1936 blizzard. He attended country school and high school in Rock Rapids. His military service was a (6) year obligation from 1958 to 1964. He attained the rank of Sergeant, finishing as an SP5 Communication Specialist. He graduated from Nettleton Business College. He later graduated from real estate, appraising, auctioneering, and insurance schools. On November 22, 1962, he was united in marriage to Marlene Star in Corsica, SD. They were blessed with 3 daughters: Cindy, Carrie, and Julie. Ken and Marlene farmed from 1963 – 1986. In 1986 they sold the farm and moved to Rock Rapids. Ken was elected Lyon County Auditor and served the county for 12 years before deciding to retire. During his lifetime he served on many boards at the city, county, and state level, including the Auctioneer’s Board and the State Auditor’s Board. His life interest was serving others through church, family, and community. As a member of the First Reformed Church, he served as Deacon, Elder, and Vice President of Consistory; taught Sunday School and Catechism, was an RCYF sponsor, was a member of the choir, and sang in “The Reformer’s Quartet” for 52 years. He loved his family with his entire being. A wonderful blessing was for Ken and Marlene to be able to celebrate 50 years of marriage with an open house in 2012. He will lovingly be remembered by his wife as her “soul mate” and “best friend”, by each of his daughters as a “loving Dad”, and by his grandchildren as their “beloved Papa.” It has always been Ken’s prayer to meet his family in Heaven someday. Grateful for having shared his life is his wife, Marlene; three daughters: Cindy (Dave) Madden, Borger, TX; Carrie (Mike) Austin, Dell Rapids, SD; Julie (Rich) Grosz, Dell Rapids, SD; 14 grandchildren; and 2 sisters-in-law: Joyce Mellema and Lois Beckstrand. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and only brother, Dewey.
For a complete obituary and online registry please visit: jurrensfuneralhome.com