Kenneth W. Wabasse
September 8, 1920 — November 18, 2010
Kenneth W. Warbasse, 90, of Central City, died Thursday, November 18, 2010, at the Hiawatha Care Center, Hiawatha, Iowa. Services: 10:30 a.m., Monday, November 22, 2010, at Jordan’s Grove Church, Central City, by Rev. Stephen Russell. The family will greet friends from 3 – 6 p.m., Sunday, November 21, 2010, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City. Burial: Jordan’s Grove Cemetery, Central City, Iowa with military honors provided by American Legion Wapsie Post #421.
Survivors include his wife, Velma; his son, Steven Warbasse; 4 grandchildren, Lisa (Edward) Burkle, Wendy (John) Holtorff, Matt Warbasse, and Sarah (Charles) Mersch; and 10 great-grandchildren, Natalie Roush, Cassidy Burkle, Isaac Burkle, Elias Burkle, Levi Burkle, Piper Burkle, Lillian Warbasse, Paige Holtorff, Sydney Holtorff, and Sage Mersch.
He was preceded in death by his parents when he was 8 years old, at which time he went to live with his grandmother, Cora Kelso.
Ken was born on September 8, 1920, in a farm house one mile south of West Prairie Corners, to Raymond and Bertha (Kelso) Warbasse. He married Velma Scott on February 24, 1944 at Jordan’s Grove Parsonage, while he was home on furlough. He was a veteran of WWII. After graduating from Central City High School, he attended Iowa State College for a 2-year agriculture course. He then worked for Witwer Farms until he entered the service in WWII in August, 1942. First he was in the 71st Coast Artillery, Washington D.C. After a year and a half, he was transferred to the Army Engineer Maintenancs Company for overseas duty. He was sent to France and Germany where he earned a battle star in the Rhineland Campaign. After VE Day, many of his company were sent via the Panama Canal to the Phillipine Islands for the invasion of Japan. Thanks to the good Lord and the Atomic Bomb, they were spared that terrible task. He was sent home to San Francisco, then to Fort Leavenworth to be discharged from the service in April, 1946. He was a very proud veteran of WWII. Ken returned to work at the Witwer Farms for a year and a half to operate a tiling machine. He and Velma then purchased a farm west of Central City which has been their home for the past 56+ years. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion Wapsie Post #421, and a lifetime member of Farm Bureau.
Ken was blessed by a super wife and family, and many peaceful quiet years out on the farm.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Ken’s memory.
Survivors include his wife, Velma; his son, Steven Warbasse; 4 grandchildren, Lisa (Edward) Burkle, Wendy (John) Holtorff, Matt Warbasse, and Sarah (Charles) Mersch; and 10 great-grandchildren, Natalie Roush, Cassidy Burkle, Isaac Burkle, Elias Burkle, Levi Burkle, Piper Burkle, Lillian Warbasse, Paige Holtorff, Sydney Holtorff, and Sage Mersch.
He was preceded in death by his parents when he was 8 years old, at which time he went to live with his grandmother, Cora Kelso.
Ken was born on September 8, 1920, in a farm house one mile south of West Prairie Corners, to Raymond and Bertha (Kelso) Warbasse. He married Velma Scott on February 24, 1944 at Jordan’s Grove Parsonage, while he was home on furlough. He was a veteran of WWII. After graduating from Central City High School, he attended Iowa State College for a 2-year agriculture course. He then worked for Witwer Farms until he entered the service in WWII in August, 1942. First he was in the 71st Coast Artillery, Washington D.C. After a year and a half, he was transferred to the Army Engineer Maintenancs Company for overseas duty. He was sent to France and Germany where he earned a battle star in the Rhineland Campaign. After VE Day, many of his company were sent via the Panama Canal to the Phillipine Islands for the invasion of Japan. Thanks to the good Lord and the Atomic Bomb, they were spared that terrible task. He was sent home to San Francisco, then to Fort Leavenworth to be discharged from the service in April, 1946. He was a very proud veteran of WWII. Ken returned to work at the Witwer Farms for a year and a half to operate a tiling machine. He and Velma then purchased a farm west of Central City which has been their home for the past 56+ years. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion Wapsie Post #421, and a lifetime member of Farm Bureau.
Ken was blessed by a super wife and family, and many peaceful quiet years out on the farm.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Ken’s memory.
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