Kenneth 'Kenny' Rawson

KENNETH "KENNY" JAY RAWSON

Central City

Kenneth "Kenny" Jay Rawson, 88, of Central City, passed away Sunday, Feb. 14, 2016, at St. Luke's Hospice in Cedar Rapids. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Funeral service: 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at the funeral home by the Rev. Sherri Anderson.

Kenny was born May 16, 1927, in Arlington, Iowa, the son of Dorr and Anna (Weber) Rawson. Kenny moved with his parents in 1935 to the Linn County area where he attended country schools and graduated from Alburnett High School in 1945. On Sept. 23, 1951, Kenny was united in marriage to Donna Mae Miller at the Methodist Church in Marion. Two children were born to this union. Together they farmed north of Alburnett until his retirement in 1993. They resided north of Alburnett until moving to Bickford Cottage in August 2015.

He will be remembered as one who enjoyed playing town team baseball, attending his grandkids' sporting events, but most of all cruising the country neighborhood with his dog, Daisy, by his side. Checking farm fields was a ritual, so "God made a farmer."

Survivors include his wife, Donna Mae Rawson of Central City; his children, Alan (Becky) Rawson of Walker and Lori Reed (Chris Shadden) of Central City; a brother, Donald (Kay) Rawson of Hiawatha; seven grandchildren, Marc (Becky) Rawson, Kyle Rawson (Lauren Klima), Derek Rawson (Kira Swanson), Preston (Amber) Reed, Ashley Reed (Josh Banes), Megan Shadden (Thomas Rodriguez) and Colton Shadden; nine great-grandchildren; two nieces; one stepniece; and one stepnephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either the Alburnett Historical Society, 106 S. Main Ave., Alburnett, IA 52202; or to the Alburnett Foundation (to be used toward the Martin Sports Complex), P.O. Box 193, Alburnett, IA 52202.

Please share a memory of Kenny at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.