Sunday Obituary - Dennis Ford - 1938-2015

Sunday Obituary

Dennis Ford

1938-2015

Dennis was my first cousin, once removed, and in my graduating Class of 1957 at Coon Rapids, Iowa. [He outlived his doctor's 6-8 months by nearly two full years...]

Dennis Ford passed away May 18, 2015, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.  He was 76 years of age.  Per his wishes, no services are planned at this time.  A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future.  Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association or the American Cancer Society.

Dennis Kinnick Ford was born December 1, 1938, at Carroll.  He was the son of Lillian Kinnick Ford and Delbert Ford.  Dennis graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1957. Through his high school years, he participated in 4-H and FFA.  Dennis attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, studying accounting and business.

On August 28, 1960, Dennis was united in marriage to Sandy Fagan at the Glidden Methodist Church.  The couple farmed around Coon Rapids for a time, then farmed south of Glidden for 10 years, where they also had a small dairy herd.  They lived near Dunbar Slough for a few years and then moved to Lake View, and then back to Coon Rapids.  In 1973 they made their home in Jefferson where Dennis remained for the rest of his life.

Dennis worked as a welder at Parker Manufacturing in Jefferson, and then worked for 24 years in building maintenance and engineering for the Jefferson and Jefferson-Scranton School District.  He retired in November 2000.

Together, Dennis and Sandy mowed lawns and did snow removal in the Jefferson community for more than 30 years.  Dennis enjoyed playing cards and was an avid reader of western books.  He belonged to First United Methodist Church where he served as a trustee and was head usher for many years.  Dennis volunteered throughout the community by delivering congregate meals, working for the food pantry, Greene County Medical Center auxiliary, and securing  hosts for the seasonal operation of the Mahanay Bell Tower.

Dennis was a member of Morning Star Lodge #159 A.F. & A.M. (Masons), Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, and the Odd Fellows Lodge.  He loved being around people.  Comaraderie and service to others was important to him.

Surviving are his wife Sandy Ford of Jefferson; children Jeff (Terri) Ford and Deborah (Don) Wills of Jefferson, and Gene (Greg Lacey) Ford of Des Moines; grandchildren Jennifer (Brent) Oakes of Paton, James (Mindy) Ford, Josh (Jessica Wolf) Ford and  Megan Vaughan, all  of Jefferson,  and Jada Lacey of Des Moines,; six great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

The family is assisted by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home of Jefferson, 515-386-2171.

Source: http://greenecountynewsonline.com/2015/05/19/dennis-ford-1938-2015/

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - 75 year old Cradle Roll Certificate

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

75 year old Cradle Roll Certificate

Reading some other Wordless Wednesday posts, I was reminded this might be fun to post here.

It was posted recently on the Kinnick Blog of my Mom's daily diary entries, but that is a somewhat different readership... though many are the same, I suppose.

Star Church is a rural Iowa church founded in the 1880s and operated into the mid-20th century.

The names on the Certificate still have meaning to those who remember the church.

Families are Forever! ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Thanksgivings past (1941, 2003)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Thanksgivings past

1941 - 2003

Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

What fun! I put "Thanksgiving" in my image finder and these two came up!

[Titled: Thanksgiving - 1941 - kids]

 This is Lohrville, Iowa - 1941 - Uncle Leo Kinnick's house. Especially appropriate, because cousin Dennis Ford (upper left; on the stump, lower left) will celebrate his 75th Birthday on Sunday, December 1, 2013. That is me, Bill, upper right, in front of that neat car!! I'm also in the lower left, as well... the cute kid, of course! Lower right is cousin Karen Kinnick, on the right, and her neighbor, on the left.

[Titled: Thanksgiving - 2003 in Branson]

From the left: Larry Johnson, Annette Lamb, Bill Smith, Nancy Smith, Ben Rathsack, and Arrion Rathsack, using automatic setting on Annette's Camera, I think, at the time... technology constantly challenges...  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick-Williams picnic photo

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick-Williams picnic photo

This is a photo I took in 1955 in the basement of the 'new' addition to the Star Church of my youth, near Coon Rapids, Iowa. The occasion was a June gathering of what we then called the annual Kinnick-Williams (or Williams-Kinnick) picnic. It was the family of my maternal grandfather, Paul Kinnick - see this post for his siblings and their spouses - well represented above. His father, of course, was Kinnick; his mother was Williams.

The three in the middle, above, represent the "Williams" side - Francis (Williams) Keck (center, white hat), her son, Bill, behind her, her mother, Clara (Hull) Williams, in front.

From left, are Everett and Gertrude (Kinnick) Brideson, Robert Ford (daughter of), Lillian (Kinnick) Ford.

The large gathering sort of went away, for many years - however, in more recent years, the Kinnicks have been getting together in Coon Rapids - in June. I won't be there, this year, but did attend a couple of years ago. Fun family times!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Fall 1939 Kinnick Family on Farm

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday

Fall 1939 Kinnick Family on Farm

I think this photo was taken at my parents' farm; they are on the left, Mom holding me, a few months old. Next, is my cousin Karen, a year old, held by her mother, Ida Marie. Her husband, Leo (my uncle) was taking the photo!
From the right, are my maternal grandmother, Dorothy; her sisters-in-law, Lillian (Kinnick) Ford (white hat) and Edna (Pierce) Kinnick (widow of Robert); and Paul Kinnick, my maternal grandfather. In the far back, center, is Delbert Ford, holding his son, Dennis. The gentleman in white, center, is Everette Brideson, husband of Gertrude, to the right in the photo. Paul, Robert, Gertrude and Lillian are siblings. Their other sister, Lucile (Kinnick) Herron was not there.
The four youngsters in front, are, from left, John Brideson, Jeannette Brideson, Roberta Ford, and Edward (Buzzy) Kinnick. Leo, Eileen, and Buzzy were the children of Paul and Dorothy.


Families are Forever!  ;-) 

Treasure Chest Thursday - 5 Kinnick Siblings

Treasure Chest Thursday - 5 Kinnick Siblings

January 1, 1948

At Family New Year's Day Dinner, Bayard, Iowa

This post complements last weeks post: 5 Kinnick Sibling Couples

These five are children of Alonzo and Nettie (Williams) Kinnick, as noted last week.

From left:

Lucile Kinnick Herron (1894-1956)
Lillian Kinnick Ford (1908-1993)
Paul Kinnick (1892-1968)
Gertrude Kinnick Brideson (1902-1988)
Robert Kinnick (1896-1953)

Note: Thanks to 'cousin sharing' on Facebook for the date of the photo!!  ;-)

Now, after additional research, the story becomes more clear, though not totally, of course. First:

Further research: Jan 9, 1948 Bayard News, p. , Coon Rapids Enterprise (from archive online!):
http://coonrapids.advantage-preservation.com/document/coon-rapids-enterprise-1948-01-02-page-3

"Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kinnick, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Herron, Mr and Mrs. Delbert Ford of Coon Rapids and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Brideson were New Years dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kinnick."

New Facts: In searching the newspaper archives, I have also found that Brideson's actually left for California in December on 1948, nearly 12 months later... I think I've recognized a new Treasure Chest source of information for this weekly feature - articles from the hometown paper, perhaps with photos to match... For now, I'll leave it here.

Request: When descendants of Everett and Gertrude Brideson read this, I request they share with me/us the stories they remember of the move to California. Perhaps, share with me via email, and I'll add to these posts... or, simply write in the comments... which ever works best. THANKS!



Families are Forever!  ;-)

Treasure Chest Thursday - 5 Kinnick Sibling Couples

Treasure Chest Thursday - 5 Kinnick Sibling Couples

These are the five couples descending from Alonzo and Nettie (Williams) Kinnick - they and their children and their descendants make up the Kinnick-Williams/Williams-Kinnick picnics and reunions over the past 60-70 years or more.

I'm not aware of another photo of these 10 folks together. If you know of one, I'd love to see it. THANKS!

Couples, from left:

Everett and Gertrude (Kinnick) Brideson
Paul and Dorothy (Sorensen) Kinnick
Wilson and Lucile (Kinnick) Herron
Delbert and Lillian (Kinnick) Ford
Robert and Edna (Pierce) Kinnick

[Speculation paragraph removed - see note on next Thursday's entry!  ;-)]

Anyone who knows any more about this photo - I hope you will share. Thanks!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick photo

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick photo

This is a curious 1941 photo I just came across that I had seen in years. My Dad and Mom with me in the middle in full "Sunday Church" outfits, along with me in my coat. It is obviously chilly fall. Mom's dad, grandpat Paul Kinnick on the right, also in coat, vest and tie (and hat) is very interesting.

On the left, is Delbert Ford, holding Dennis, with Roberta. His wife, Lillian, my aunt, and sister to Paul, is obviously taking the photo. Really neat. It is just so distinctive for the period.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick Family Gathering 1939

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Kinnick Family Gathering 1939


I am posting this photo today, because it is only about two and a half years after the events being posted in Eileen KINNICK daily diary entries on The KINNICK Project blog.

Leo would be taking the photo… likely his white hat on the ground!
From left: My Dad, Pete Smith and his wife, Eileen, holding me, just a few months old (perhaps an early fall 1939 day). Next are Ida Marie holding Karen and Everett Brideson, with John and Jeanette in front of him, I assume. Delbert appears to be behind him, holding Dennis, perhaps (less than a year old). Then comes Gertrude, with Buzzy in front of her. Behind is my Grandpa, Paul, then Robert's wife, Edna, then Lillian, and finally, on the right, is my Grandma, Dorothy (Sorenson) Kinnick. The little girl in front would be Roberta Ford.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Inside Star Church

Those Places Thursday

Inside Star Church

A while back I reported here, Those Places Thursday, on the rural Star Church of my youth. Today, I want to share three photos from inside the church during the early 1950s.

Looking north, this is the left side of the main part of the church sanctuary. Rev. Joston is preaching. My Mom, Eileen, is at the piano on this day. (Sometimes it was my future wife, Nancy, at the piano.) The choir included several members of our two families, as well. Note the folding door, to the far right. That opened into the 'newly added' Star school building that was added.

Here is a better look at the choir (note: not the same day as above!)

Family in the choir: second from left, Aunt Lillian (Kinnick) Ford; fourth and fifth from left, Nancy's Mom and my Mom; first man on left, in back, Lillian's husband, Delbert Ford; next man, after last lady, Nancy's Dad; tallest, my next younger brother, Jim; next to him, Nancy's brother, Al Bolger. The way it worked out in a small rural church.

Meetings were held in the basement, downstairs. Here is an adult Sunday School class holding a dinner-based social meeting, one evening.

Very typical events of our small church. Great memories.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday - 5 KINNICK Siblings

Wordless (Nearly) Wednesday

5 KINNICK Siblings

Left to right (dates late 1940s):

Robert (1896-1953)

Gertrude (1902-1988) {Brideson}

Lillian (1908-1993) {Ford}

Lucile (1894-1956) {Herron}

Paul (1892-1968) - my maternal grandfather

Families are Forever!  ;-)