Kenneth Leroy Garretson

Kenneth Garretson, age 71 of Rock Rapids, IA died Sun., Sept. 27, 2009 at his home in Rock Rapids. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Wed., Sept. 30th at the United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Anita Bane officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids, IA. Visitation will be Tues., Sept. 29th from 2p.m. to 8p.m. with the family present from 6p.m. " 8p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids. Kenneth Garretson was born March 3, 1938 in Rock Valley, IA to John and Greta (Vander Naald) Gerritsen. He was raised in the Inwood area and graduated from Inwood High School in 1957. On April 20, 1964 he was united in marriage to Margaret Mike Jansen. The couple moved to Houston, TX to raise their family and Ken worked for ABC Door Company in Houston as an installer and technician. Upon his retirement in 1999, he and Mike moved to Rock Rapids. Ken enjoyed riding his Harley Motorcycle, especially trips to Sturgis each year. He took great pride in his garage. Every tool was completely cleaned and put in its own special place. Ken was known for being able to fix anything and was truly a handy man. He was a great help to many people over the years, always there when they needed him. Ken was a talented gardener. He always had a vegetable garden that produced wonderfully each year. But most of all, Ken loved spending time with his family. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will remember him as a loving and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humor. This last Sunday, Ken died unexpectedly at his home in Rock Rapids. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and he will be greatly missed. Ken is survived by his wife of 45 years Margaret Mike Garretson; son, Verlyn (Brenda) Kooi of Edgerton, MN, and daughter, Loann (Russ) Legler of Woodstock, MN; eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; mother, Greta Gerritsen of Inwood, IA; sister-in-law, Marcella Gerritson of Rapid City, SD; brother, Jack Gerritsen of Vancouver, WA, sister, Beverly Zoerink of Ft. Collins, CO, sister Diana (Dan) Wentworth of Flandreau, SD, sister, Kathy (Chris) Moody of Apple Valley, CA, brother, Bill (Marla) Gerritsen of Inwood, IA, brother, Mike (Jean) Gerritsen of Ankeny, IA, and sister, Coralee (Chuck) Knoblock of Larchwood, IA. He was preceded in death by his father, John Gerritsen; and older brother Tom Gerritson.