Erickson, Kenneth J.

Kenneth J. Erickson, 74, of Oxford Junction, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, with loved ones by his side. Services will be 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oxford Junction, with the Rev. Greg Steckel officiating. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Lahey Funeral Home in Oxford Junction, where a Scripture service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Burial will be in Mayflower Cemetery, Oxford Junction.

Kenneth James Erickson was born Nov. 22, 1936, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Ferdinand P. and Georgia A. (Mizaur) Erickson. He graduated from Oxford Junction High School, where he played basketball and baseball for four years, and received many awards as All County, Conference, and all State. He went on to attend Coe College in Cedar Rapids,

where he received ROTC training. He married Elaine Glynn in 1959 in Lost Nation. They later divorced. He married Doris Keller in 1972 in Galena, Ill.

Ken was a senior buyer at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1991. He also owned and operated The Viking Inn in Oxford Junction.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oxford Junction, Aberdeen Angus Association, Oxford Junction Heritage Museum, the Fire Brigade, a charter member of the New R/C Manufacturing facilities in Georgia, and a life member of the Collins Radio Co. He was a member of Whitetails, DU, Pheasants Forever, and Squirrels Forever. He also had served

on the Oxford Junction school board. Ken received the American Legion School Leadership Award and was a Cub Scoutmaster in Oxford Junction.

He enjoyed all Iowa Hawkeye sports, the St. Louis Cardinals, hunting, fishing, especially in Minnesota, bird watching and flowers.

Ken is survived by his wife, Doris Erickson of Oxford Junction; two sons, Bradly J. Erickson of Lake Kabetogama, Minn., and Jeffery G. (Cathy) Erickson of Crane Lake, Minn.; one granddaughter, Casey Erickson; a stepson, Allen (Connie) Keller; a stepdaughter, Penny Murphy (Dave Bloome), her son, Michael Murphy, and her daughter, Brandy (Chris) McDonough, and their children, Nathan and Carson; and a stepdaughter-in-law, Tammy Keller, all of Cedar Rapids; one sister, Rosemary (Herman) Michael of Cedar Rapids; and one brother, Richard Erickson of Monticello.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a stepson, Mike Keller.

Online condolences may be left for the family at .

Published Sept. 9, 2011, in The Gazette