Kenneth Dean Ackerman

Sibley, Iowa Kenneth D. Ackerman, age 82 of Sibley, Iowa died Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA. Memorial service will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at the First Reformed Church in Sibley, with Reverend Gary Van Heukelom officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service in the Holman Township Cemetery of Sibley. Family and friends are welcome to meet at the Jurrens Funeral Home at 9:30 AM to proceed out to the cemetery for a 10:00 AM committal service. Visitation will be on Monday, July 13th, from 2-8 PM with the family present from 6-8 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Kenneth Dean Ackerman was born March 19, 1927, in Ashton, Iowa to Tom and Martha (Vaupel) Ackerman. He was raised near Ashton, and attended eight years of country school and four years at Ashton Public School, graduating in 1945. He enlisted at the age of seventeen in the U.S. Navy. Ken was at boot camp for two months and then was stationed in Hawaii for one and a half years where he worked in the Fleet Print Shop on top secret work. His rank was Seaman 1st Class. In August 1946, Ken was honorably discharged and he returned home to Ashton. Ken was united in marriage to Margaret Heronemus on March 7, 1951, at the Salem Reformed Church, Little Rock, IA. They resided in rural Ashton, then by Little Rock, and in 1954 they moved to their current farm south of Sibley, which they owned, farmed, milked many cows and operated until 2005, when Ken retired from farming. Among the various jobs Ken held during his growing up years were driving relief milk truck for his brother-in-law, Ralph Kanengieter; working for Lawrence Rensink of Rensink Hardware, Ashton; custom baling for many neighbors and friends; and threshing with his father-in-law, Abe Heronemus. He also sold seed corn for many years. Ken liked to fish, hunt, woodwork and attend sports and music programs of his children and grandchildren. He was a member of the American Legion. He served many years as an elder and deacon at the Trinity Reformed Church in Sibley. Following the closing of the Trinity Reformed Church, he became a member of the First Reformed Church in Sibley. Ken is survived by seven children, Keith (wife, Pearl) Ackerman of Hartley, IA, Kelly (wife, Julie) Ackerman of Sibley, IA, Marcia (husband, Dick) Oldenkamp of Allendorf, IA, Dean (wife, Michelle) Ackerman of Sibley, IA, Daryl (wife, Julie) Ackerman of Circle Pines, MN, Marjo (husband, Randy) Taarud of Worthington, MN and Marlys (husband, Scott) Dykstra of Sibley, IA; twenty-six grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dale (wife, Jean) Ackerman of Worthington, MN and Cecil (wife, Shirley) Ackerman of Sibley, IA; one sister, Cleo (husband, Jake) Ahrendsen of Le Mars, IA; two sisters-in-law, Nannie Mae Kanengieter of Centennial, CO and Myrna Heronemus of Ashton, IA; three half-brothers, Tom, Ron and David Ackerman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of fifty-six years, Margaret; parents, Tom and Martha Ackerman; one brother, Glenn Ackerman; and two brothers-in-law, Ralph Kanengieter and Elmer Heronemus.