Breitsprecher, Kenneth Charles

Kenneth Charles Breitsprecher, 92, of Farmersburg, died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013, at the Elkader Care Center.

Kenneth was born Dec. 29, 1920, near Bismarck, Iowa, in Farmersburg Township, the son of Louis and Alice (Strien) Breitsprecher. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Farmersburg. He graduated from Farmersburg High School 75 years ago in 1938. On June 9, 1945, he was united in marriage to Vernice Foran at Zion Lutheran Church in Waterloo. They farmed in Read Township until moving to a farm near St. Olaf in 1958. His grandson, Mike, still works this same farm. Kenneth and Vernice were blessed with three daughters, Jean, Mary and Lois. Vernice passed away Dec. 12, 1981. He then married Patricia (Mather) Ehrhardt on May 30, 1985, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.

He was an active member of Norway Lutheran Church, St. Olaf, where he served in numerous leadership positions.

Kenneth was a lifelong farmer in the Farmersburg and St. Olaf area. He took great satisfaction in working with his Brown Swiss cattle and his Suffolk sheep. In addition to farming, Kenneth worked for 38 years at the Farm Service Agency in Elkader. This gave him an opportunity to meet and make friends with farmers throughout all of Clayton County.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his daughters: Jean (Mel) Butikofer, Farmersburg; Mary (Gregg) Cameron, Ames; and Lois (Matthew) Mulbrook, Center Point; two grandchildren, Mike (Tamara) Butikofer, Famersburg, and Mollie (Bill) Mize, Sioux City; three great-grandchildren, Alex, Reagan and Maya Butikofer; one brother, Lloyd (Ilaverne), Onalaska, Wis.; four stepchildren, Carroll Ehrhardt, Richland Center, Wis., Ruth Ehrhardt, Cedar Rapids, Donna (Dan) Ryherd, Webster City, and Mark Ehrhardt, Monona; 12 stepgrandchildren, Brian (Lisa) Cameron, Bondurant, Scott (Steph) Cameron, Portland, Ore., Eric (Mary) Ehrhardt, Bangor, Wis., Lynette Ehrhardt, Bangor, Wis., John (Sara) Ehrhardt, Onalaska, Wis., Mark Ryherd, Fairfax, Va., Lee Ryherd, Shenandoah, Grant Ryherd, West Fargo, N.D., Jan Ryherd, Ames, Monica (Brian) Enyart, Postville, Melissa (Randy) Wedo, Monona, and Samantha Ehrhardt, Nashua; and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Vernice; a brother, Harold; stepdaughter-in-law, Sandra Ehrhardt; and stepgreat-grandson, Noah Cameron.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to Norway Lutheran Church, St. Olaf.

Funeral Services: 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at Norway Lutheran Church, rural St. Olaf, with the Rev. Marshall Hahn officiating. Interment: Norway Lutheran Cemetery, rural St. Olaf. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Leonard Funeral Home, Elkader, is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be left with www.leonardfuneralhomes.com.

Published Dec. 6, 2013 in The Gazette