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Kenneth Drish
KENNETH DRISH
Cedar Rapids
Kenneth James Drish, 79, of 5708 Hunt Rd., Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at his home after a long illness. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, by the Rev. Phil Thompson, with military honors by American Legion Post 727. A vigil service will be 4 p.m. Monday at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 p.m. Friends also may visit at the church Tuesday after 10 a.m.
Ken will be missed by his wife, Jane; his two daughters, Ann Marie (Steve) Graham of Belleville, Ill., and Susan Drish of Cedar Rapids; four sons, Mark (Shelley) and Thomas (Sara), both of Cedar Rapids, Robert (Sara) of Palo and Joseph of St. Louis, Mo. Eleven grandchildren, Caitlin, Kelsey, Kyle and Charlie of Belleville, Ill., Max, Sam, TJ and Alex of Cedar Rapids and Kassidy, Maci and Libby of Palo, will miss "Grandpa Bird."
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Ralph, Paul and John.
Kenneth was born March 7, 1934, in Fairfield, the youngest son of Vincent and Cecilia Kurtz Drish. He married Mary Jane Hoopman on June 17, 1961, at Assumption Catholic Church in Cresco. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 17, 2011, with all their children and spouses and grandchildren.
Ken graduated from the University of Iowa in 1958, with a degree in accounting before serving in the Army from 1954 to 1956. He worked in Chicago for a year before returning to Cedar Rapids, where he worked as an IRS agent and later with two accounting firms.
Ken loved to hike in the mountains in Colorado, bike anywhere there were trails, work outside and be with his kids and grandkids.
He was a good Christian and a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Kiwanis Club and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals and took the family to many games each summer.
Ken will be remembered, especially by his grandkids, for his sense of humor.
Instead of flowers, please make donations in his honor to Birthright, Hospice of Mercy, the Wounded Warrior Project or a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneral home.com.
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