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 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at Hopkinton Community Church, Hopkinton, with interment in Hopkinton Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at Goettsch Funeral Home, 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, Cindy (Gilbert) Kemp and Steve (Sheri) Tucker, both of Hopkinton, Sue (Larry) Hillers of Delhi and Marilyn (Dan) Besler of Epworth; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Stuart Smith; two sisters-in-law, Inez and Doris Tucker; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; a grandson, Dawson Besler; four brothers, Elmer, Joseph, 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, the son of Edward and Anna Tucker. He attended the rural schools near Placid. Kenneth married Virginia Smith on Oct. 3, 1950, at First Presbyterian Church, Monticello. Until 1953, the couple lived in Monticello, where Ken worked for the Yo-Ho Co. They moved to Hopkinton, where Ken was the town cop and also did city maintenance as well. He started working as a carpenter for Sam Gearhart. He later worked for Jules Gerlich and Bud Rickels before going out 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 as a church trustee. Ken was an avid Cubs fan and liked to play horseshoes. Ken and Virginia loved to travel and visited all but five of the states in their travels. They were snow birds to Florida for many winters.