Shogren, Kenneth Carl

Kenneth Carl Shogren, 73, of Cedar Rapids, (formerly of Belle Plaine), died Friday, Dec. 10, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center following a short illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Christ United Methodist Church in Belle Plaine. Visitation will be at Hrabak Funeral Home in Belle Plaine Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Burial is at Cedar Memorial Cemetery.

Ken was born Dec. 9, 1937, on the family farm in rural Blairstown. He was the son of Carl and Emmalena Shogren.

He graduated from Belle Plaine High School in 1956, and attended Iowa State University and Coe College. From 1960 to 1962, he served in the military police of the U.S. Army. He married Janice (Nielsen) Shogren in 1967 and later divorced. In 1991, he married Carol Teahen of Cedar Rapids. For nearly 50 years, Ken worked as an ag mechanic; first for his father at Leo Kelly in Belle Plaine and just prior to his illness at Titan Machinery in Blairstown. He was an extremely hard worker, even during the most recent harvest when his health problems began. He felt a great sense of dedication to the many farmers he served and befriended over the years. He enjoyed time with family, telling stories, being outside, bowling, car racing and solving the daily sodoku puzzle. He was a patient, non-judgmental man who helped family, friend and stranger alike and expected nothing in return.

Ken is survived by a sister and five children: sister, Carol (Shogren) Uhlmann of Williamsburg, (Dawn, Brian, Steve and Jason); daughter, Kera (Shogren) and Scott Holm of Fresno, Calif. (Miles); son, Kristopher and Diane Shogren of Humble, Texas, (Kyle, Kelsey, Kody and Konner); daughter, Kiva Shogren and Tim Bontrager of Oxford, (Hailey, Sydney and Summer); daughter, Kasi (Shogren) and Mitch Zmolek of Mount Vernon, (Clair and Hedy Zmolek); and daughter, Anne (Teahen) and Bryan Ferguson of Elgin, Ill., (Chase and Luke).

Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Carol; and brother-in-law, Robert Uhlmann.

A memorial fund in Ken's honor has been established at MidwestOne Bank.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at kzmolek@lisbon.k12.ia.us