Kenneth T. Westrom

Kenneth Theodore Westrom was born June 4, 1932, at Lake View, Iowa, the son of Stanley and Theresa Westrom. He passed away Sunday, May 5, 2019, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, at the age of eighty-six.
Ken received his education in the Lake View schools and graduated from Lake View High School. Following his high school graduation, he served his country by enlisting in the United States Air Force January 22, 1952. He was honorably discharged December 24, 1955, receiving the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. On June 15, 1952, Ken was united in marriage to Lola Jean Dierenfeld at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake. After returning from the service, he furthered his education at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake where he received his Bachelor’s degree in two and one-half years graduating in 1958. Ken went on to graduate school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and Iowa State University in Ames before earning his Masters Degree from Drake University in Des Moines. Ken taught school in LuVerne and Newell, Iowa, before moving to Denison to teach in 1961 where he remained.
Active in community organizations, he was a member of the Optimist Club and American Legion Post. His faith was also very important to him as he and his wife were charter members of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. He served on church boards including the Board of Education and taught Sunday School at Our Savior. An avid reader, Ken loved history especially about World War II and the Civil War. He was a car, motorcycle and airplane enthusiast and had pictures of all his cars. He enjoyed spending time at Okoboji, golfing, bike riding, roller skating, ice skating, tennis, sleigh riding, badminton and croquet, always being active with the kids. He attended his children’s activities as well has his grandson, Harrison’s ballgames. Ken found great pleasure in traveling and visited 48 of the United States, not making it to Alaska or Hawaii. He enjoyed watching wrestling and auto races on television, especially stock car races every Sunday with his favorite racers being Richard Petty and Mario Andretti.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean; one son, David; one brother, John; and one sister, Margaret, at the age of sixteen. Survivors include: two daughters, Kathryn, and Linda and her husband, Hans; two sons, Thomas and his wife, Sarah, and Bruce; four grandchildren, Dublin, Lydia, Harrison, and Ashley and her husband, Coltyn; one great-grandchild, Hannah; other relatives and friends.