Lode, Kaare

Kaare Lode, 82, a resident of Summit Pointe, died there on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. Funeral service: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Walker. Family will greet friends from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27, at the funeral home in Walker. Burial: Troy Mills Cemetery, Troy Mills, Iowa. Military honors: American Legion Ray Post 376 of Walker, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Nancy Favre Lode; children, Lisa Laura (Orville) McInroy, Elaine Nancy (Leif) Tjensvoll, Karl Albert (Lisa) Lode, Annette Louise (Dale) Seaman, Eric Marvin (Penny) Lode; grandchildren, Brittney (Steven) Van Arsdale, Annika and Laila Tjensvoll, Dustin and Kelsey Lode, and Levi Lode; siblings, Rasmus Lode, Engeborg Kristiansen, Bjorg Edland, Karsten (Malli) Lode, and Regine Naeland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Derek Dale Elliott; siblings, Swen (Milfrid) Lode, Ole (Julie) Lode, Elisa (Peder) Djoseland, Tilla (Yonas) Euland; an infant brother, Brigt Lode; and brothers-in-law, Eivind Naeland, Idar Kristiansen, and Steinar Edland.

Kaare was born May 3, 1928, in Varhaug, Norway, the son of Karl and Ingeborg Berte (Lebrekk) Lode. Kaare came to America in July of 1949 from his native land of Norway, Europe. He grew up during World War II. After attending Nestrand College of Agriculture, he decided to travel to the U.S. with his friend Didrick Aske. He arrived at the home of Mrs. Olive Oline near Independence, Iowa. Kaare began working on the Yeager farm, rapidly learning English. When the Korean War broke out, he had already taken out his first citizenship papers. He entered the United States Armed Services in 1950. Upon returning in 1952, Sergeant Lode married his sweetheart Lorraine, whom he had met at a square dance before deployment. He continued to study for citizenship and gained naturalization on May 12, 1953.

Kaare was employed at Iowa Manufacturing, Pennick Ford and Paulsen Construction. He began farming at Shady Grove in 1954. Kaare and his wife purchased a farm north of Walker in 1963 where he worked the land until retirement in 1991. Kaare received the owner-operator Iowa Conservation Award in November of 1985. He was also the District Overall winner for owner-operator in soil conservation, awarded by the Buchanan County Farm Bureau. He strongly believed in crop rotation, terracing and contouring to help control soil erosion before these practices were common place.

Kaare's interests included restoring and improving the farm house and property during his farming years. He also enjoyed going for walks, whistling, playing harmonica and family outings on the pontoon boat.

Upon retirement, Kaare and his wife traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Norway, Europe. In 2001, Kaare and Lorraine moved to a home that they built on Ridge Road between Stone City and Anamosa, which they enjoyed for several years.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, family, and friends.

“It's never so bad that it isn't good for something.” - Kaare Lode

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name.

Please sign the online guest book for Kaare at  under obituaries.