Kenneth Harry Searls

Kenneth Harry Searls, the son of William Harry and Edith Estelle (Ary) Searls, was born January 29, 1928, at his parents’ home in rural Audubon County, Iowa and died July 12, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 90 years, 5 months, and 13 days.
Kenneth was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended rural school, Hamlin #3 through eighth grade then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1946. Half way through his senior year, Kenneth’s father died so following graduation Kenneth operated the family farm. On January 11, 1952, he was inducted into the U.S. Army. During his tour of duty he served states side and was a guided missile electronic component repairman. Kenneth was honorably discharged on January 10, 1954, at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas. He returned to the family farm and cared for his mother through-out her life and grew row crops and raised livestock. Kenneth retired from farming in 1984 then was employed as a rural mail carrier for over 17 years until he retired.
Kenneth was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. He was a member of and served on the board of directors of the Audubon Farm Bureau, the Audubon Golf and Country Club, and the Elder Bridge Agency. Kenneth was on the County Zoning Commission, was a member of the Audubon Lions Club, and served as Commander of Audubon Post #120, American Legion. He was a member of the Audubon Veritas Lodge #392 A.F. and A.M. Masonic Lodge, the Godfrey Commandery, the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine and the Shrine Pacers. Kenneth was also instrumental in the organization and completion of the Audubon County Veterans Memorial.
Kenneth was an avid Audubon School sports fan. He was on the Chain Gang at the Audubon High School football games, operated the time clock for the basketball and volleyball games, and was a timer for the track meets. Kenneth received the Friend of Education Award from the Audubon High School which allowed him free admission to any High School sporting events for life. He never missed a game. Kenneth also did catering for many years and was well known for his delicious barbequed meats.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his sisters Louise and husband Ted Molgaard and Flay and husband Henry Walters; his brother Fred and wife Thelma Searls; his nieces Lorraine Nickum and Charlotte Searls; and his great-great nephew Nickolas T.J. DuVall.
Survivors include his nieces and nephews: Shirley Small of Fremont, Nebraska, Marilyn Hansen of Manning, Iowa, Kathleen Hansen of Ankeny, Iowa, Peggy and husband Alvin Grabill of Audubon, Iowa, Roger and wife Betty Searls of Greensboro, North Carolina, Kent and wife Marlene Walters and Jolene DuVall all of Audubon, Iowa, and Paul Searls of Phoenix, Arizona; great nieces and nephews; great-great nieces and nephews; great great-great nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Tuesday evening, July 17, 2018, at 5:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Wednesday morning, July 18, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be Ralph Cleveland, Everett Nelson, Shirley Small, Marilyn Hansen, Kathleen Hansen, Peggy Grabill, and Jolene DuVall. The casket bearers will be Roger Searls, Kent Walters, Paul Searls, Joel DuVall, Darvin Wittrock, and Paul Christensen.