Dodson, Kenneth 'Bud' Ross

Kenneth “Bud” Ross Dodson, 83, of Lone Tree, died Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, as the result of an accident. Funeral services for Kenneth will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Lone Tree American Legion. Pastor Susan Barnes will officiate the services. Full military rites will be provided by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. Following the services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Lone Tree American Legion. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Lone Tree American Legion.

Memorials may be directed to the Lone Tree American Legion in memory of Kenneth.

The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation services is caring for the family.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at .

Kenneth was born Feb. 23, 1929, in Lone Tree, the son of Leslie Dodson and Merle Draper Dodson. He graduated from Lone Tree High School and entered the U.S. Navy in 1948 serving on the USS Helena Light Cruiser in the Korean War through 1954. He was very proud of the service he and others gave to our country. Following his service, he returned to Lone Tree to farm and married Audrey Brenneman Dodson on Jan. 15, 1955.

He was a jack of all trades, as most farmers are and was extremely artistic and a talented craftsmen. Ken built their home as well as a Gold Wing Experimental aircraft, flying it on calm evenings over southeast Johnson County as well northeast Washington County. Ken enjoyed watching the space flight coverage on the Space Channel, racing, Iowa Football and Basketball among other sports and greatly enjoyed watching his two grandchildren participate in many sports. He was a devoted member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457, instrumental in the All Veterans Memorial now standing in front of the Legion building, designing and raising funds for it and oversaw each detail of its construction. He and his wife, Audrey attended biannual USS Helena Crew reunions throughout the country, gaining many close friendships and was looking forward to next years reunion at Helena, Mont., and had just made arrangements to be on the next Honor Flight with his daughter to Washington D.C. as a Korean War Veteran.

He was also a member of the Lone Tree United Presbyterian Church and used many of his talents to maintain the church property. A lover of dogs, he had many devoted pets through the years, and you often saw them in the passenger seat of his car or golf cart buzzing around the farm.

Ken is survived by his wife, Audrey Brenneman Dodson with whom he would have celebrated 58 years of marriage; his daughter, Cheri Dodson Colbert; his son, Keith; daughter-in-law, Lois; two grandchildren, Andrew and Elizabeth, all of Lone Tree; a brother, Cleo of Lone Tree; his wife, Shirley; two nephews, Steve and Kevin (San Jose, Calif.) and his son, Jeremy; a niece, Laurie Dodson Lilleg, her husband, Mike, their daughter, Jasmine of Iowa City; sisters-in-law, Debbie Brenneman Magruder, husband Doug, their children Renee, Ryan and Robyn; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Brenneman, his wife Eunice, their children Mindy, Mike and Andrea; brother-in-law, Vernon Brenneman, wife, Deb, his children Christy, Cathy, Colene and Carmen; brother-in-law, Raymond Brenneman, wife Andrea, their children Karleen and Phil; brother-in-law, Ron Brenneman, wife Jane, two sons Clint and Jered, all of Lone Tree; many great-nieces and nephews; and two cousins of Washington, Iowa, David (Clarice) and Pete (Carol) Bell.

As a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and substitute grandfather to many of the great nieces and nephews in the family, Ken was a great example of a hard working man who served and loved his country, respected and farmed the land and was a great conversationalist who cared deeply about people.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 6, 2012.