Kenneth Hinsch

George, IA Kenneth Hinsch, age 77 of George, IA died Saturday, August 23, 2014, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 26th at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at George, IA with Rev. Dr. Paul Soderquist officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at George, IA. Visitation will be Monday, August 25th from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George. Kenneth Louis Hinsch was born November 19, 1936, at Rock Rapids, Iowa the son of Louis and Mathilda (Schmidt) Hinsch. Kenneth was baptized the day he was born because of health issues. The baptism was ratified May 2, 1937. Kenneth was confirmed and became a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Hull. Kenneth spent his first years on a farm near Rock Rapids. They moved to a farm southwest of George, and he attended Wheeler #4 country school. He graduated from George High School with the class of 1955. Kenneth enlisted in the National Guard. He was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis and spent a year in the state of Washington. On January 23, 1959, he married his best friend Elaine Sprock at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George. To this union two children were born Bradley and Pamela. Pamela passed away December 1, 1993. They lived southwest of George for two years while he helped his dad farm, and then he worked for Kooiker manufacturing for a year. They moved into George in 1961, and Kenneth became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1983, he transferred his membership to Ebenezer Presbyterian Church. Kenneth started working at Sudenga Industries in 1961 where he worked for 30 years as a welder and 10 years in packing. Kenneth retired in 2001. He enjoyed collecting toy tractors, especially replicas of the ones used on their farm. He went to the national toy show in Dyersville for 23 years. He ushered at Ebenezer church for 25 years. Kenneth served as elder for 3 years, also a deacon for 15 years. He loved to do word search puzzles and visit. He was on the Lyon County Fair board for 35 years. The first years he took care of the open class vegetable department. He also worked on the fair grounds for several years. Kenneth found out on Friday that he will be inducted into the Iowa Association of Fairs Hall of Fame. His family will be accepting this award on his behalf in December. Kenneth and Elaine were the coordinators of the torch run for the 150th anniversary of the Iowa State Fair in 2004. They did the northwest portion of Iowa starting in Larchwood. Kenneth and Elaine enjoyed traveling to New York, Niagara Falls, and the Grand Canyon. Kenneth and Elaine enjoyed going to all their grandchildren and great-grandchildren's events. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elaine; son, Bradley (Susan) Hinsch of George, IA; son-in-law, Alvin (Luella) Smidstra of Rock Rapids, IA; grandchildren, Jason (Kayla) Hinsch of Harrisburg, SD; Jessica Hinsch of Sioux Falls, SD; Alan (Sarah) Smidstra of Queen Creek, AZ; Kristin (Bill) Vande Kop of Rock Rapids, IA; Kim (Chad) Van't Hul of Rock Rapids, IA; Craig (Breanna) Bosma of Rock Rapids, IA and Alyssa (Kendall) Kruse of George, IA; great grandchildren, Chase and Kali Smidstra; Jorden, Ashten, and Carsen Vande Kop and Kelsey and Jake Van't Hul; sister, Marla Woelber of Spencer, IA and sister-in-law, Brenda Sprock of George, IA; along with many nieces and nephews. Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Mathilda Hinsch; his daughter, Pamela Smidstra; mother in-law and father in-law, William and Leone Sprock; brothers-in-law, Terry Sprock and Norman Woelber.