Kenneth Tucker

KENNETH TUCKER

Hopkinton

Kenneth Tucker, 85, of Hopkinton, died Friday, April 8, 2016, at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Hopkinton Community Church with interment in the Hopkinton Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Goettsch Funeral Home in Monticello.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Surviving are four children, Sue (Larry) Hillers, Delhi, Cindy (Gilbert) Kemp and Steve (Sheri) Tucker, both of Hopkinton, and Marilyn (Dan) Besler, Epworth; 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Stuart Smith; four sisters-in-laws, Doris and Inez Tucker, Leandra Hessing and Patricia Sackett; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; a grandson, Dawson Besler; four brothers, Elmer, Joe, Melvin and Eldon; and four sisters, Viola Whitfield Moriarity, Grace Sternhagen-Miller, Dorothy Tucker and Luella Sternhagen.

Kenneth C. Tucker was born Dec. 22, 1930, in Taylor Township, Dubuque County, Iowa, near Placid. He was the son of Edward and Anna Tucker. He attended rural schools near Placid. Kenneth married Virginia Smith on Oct. 3, 1950, at First Presbyterian Church, Monticello. The couple lived in Monticello where Ken worked at Yo-Ho Company. In 1953, the couple moved to Hopkinton where Ken worked as the town cop and did city maintenance as well. He started working as a carpenter for Sam Gearhart and later worked with Jules Gerlich and Bud Rickels before going on his own. Kenneth turned the business over to his son, Steve, in 1990.

Virginia preceded him in death on Aug. 16, 1996.

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and served a a church trustee. Ken was an avid Cubs fan and like to play horseshoes. Ken and Virginia loved to travel and visited all but five of the states in their travels. They were Florida snowbirds for many winters.