Keniston Herbert Hoppenworth, the son of Herbert and Evalena (Prestien) Hoppenworth, was born June 16, 1928 in Fremont Township, Bremer County, Iowa. He was baptized July 8, 1928 in his parent’s home and he was confirmed April 18, 1943 at Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli, Iowa. Ken graduated from Tripoli High School in 1946. Ken was united in marriage with Marilyn Rieck on June 20, 1948 at Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli. The couple farmed near Tripoli for a few years before moving to a farm in the Buck Creek area in 1951. They returned to a farm south of Tripoli in 1958 and have farmed there since.
Ken’s death occurred Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, after a short illness. He was eighty years old. Ken was a lifetime member of Grace Lutheran Church in Tripoli. He had served on the church council, was a past-president of the congregation, served as the Trust fund president for eight years, was a member of Grace Men in Mission, was a confirmation mentor, and was a funeral usher. He was a longtime member of the Farm Bureau, serving as Township Director, Bremer County President, and serving for nine years on the Iowa Farm Bureau Board of Directors; he served on the Tripoli Community School Board for six years and was the chief negotiator for the district for several years; he served on the Bremer County Dairy Promoters Board of Directors; the Bremer County Fair Board; he was president of the Tripoli Senior Housing; the president of A.R.C. of Bremer County; the Fremont Township Clerk; a board member of Bethphage (Mosaic) in Omaha, Nebraska; a member of the Mental Retardation Commission for the State of Iowa; he was the Resident Advocate for the Tripoli Nursing Home; a member of the Loan Committee for F.M.H.A.; and was a board member for the Interstate Livestock Producers Association. Ken enjoyed word find puzzles; his grandchildren’s activities; and he was a devoted father to his special needs son, Quentin.
Ken is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Tripoli; four children, Nancy (Dave) Foelske of Tripoli; Jeffrey (Diane) Hoppenworth of Waukesha, Wisconsin; Mary (Ray) Dietz of Ionia, Iowa; and Jayson (Karen) Hoppenworth of Tripoli; eight grandchildren, Kara (Jared) Haverkamp; Derek (Mindy) Foelske; Aaron (Mindy Heck) Foelske; Marc Foelske; Scott Hoppenworth; Brian Hoppenworth; Matthew Dietz; Denise (Garrett) Rettig; Patricia Dietz; Justin Hoppenworth; and Sara Hoppenworth; seven great grandchildren; and one sister, Marlys (Marvin) Haverkamp of Grundy Center, Iowa.
Ken was preceded in death by his son, Quentin; his parents; and one brother, Eldon Hoppenworth.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 27, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church, Tripoli, Iowa conducted by Rev. Miles Renaas. Internment will be at Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Tripoli. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2009 at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and one hour before services at Grace Lutheran Church on Friday.
