Mardell Sargent

Mardell D. Sargent (Red), 83, of Casey, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona.

Mardell was born on February 26, 1925 in Osceola, Nebraska, the son of Wilbur and Norma Sargent.

He attended school in Bartlett, Nebraska, and joined the United States Army in 1944. He served in Japan and Okinawa.

On June 30, 1945 he married Ardith Louise Klentz in St. Paul, Nebraska. To this union four children were born: Dennis, Thelma Jean, Leonard and Roy.

Together they lived in many different areas including St. Paul, Grand Island, and Omaha, Nebraska, as well as Guthrie Center and Casey, Iowa. When the family settled on the farm outside of Guthrie Center he went to work for International and Chevrolet as a mechanic. Following this they moved to Casey where he worked for the Iowa D.O.T. and later worked in Adair as head mechanic until his retirement in 1988.

Mardell was known as "Red" by co-workers, friends and family. He loved gardening, animals and especially going 4-wheeling with his family. There was never a stranger near him, he made friends with everyone. He particularly liked his dear friends the "hunters" (John and Aldi) who visited him every fall and winter.

He was a member of American Legion Post #0419 and VFW Post #8877. He was also a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Casey, Iowa.

Mardell is survived by his daughter Thelma Jean Kilcoin (Don) of Buckeye, Arizona; his sons Leonard Sargent (Kathy) of Adair, Iowa and Roy Sargent (Sandy) of Stuart, Iowa; his companion Hazel Williams; his beloved grandchildren Shary Zuspann (Tim), Curtis Kilcoin, Regina Jeffries, Shane Reed (Tammy), Michael Reed (Jamaica), Derek Sargent (Brandi), Tanya McNamar, Kim Kinzie (Donnie), Michelle King (Jason), Kevin Sargent (Carrie), and Brian Sargent (Larelle), and Patrick Sargent (Mandy); his very noisy 24 great-grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 9 step great-grandchildren, 5 step great-great-grandchildren; his sisters Norma Longar of Derby, Kansas, Donna Trosper of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Roberta Berney of Omaha, Nebraska; his brother Dwayne Sargent (Mary) of Buckeye, Arizona; his sister-in-law Elaine DeHarde (Norman) of Grand Island, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 1988 and his son Dennis in 1969.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Saturday, December 27, 2008 at the Hockenberry Funeral Home in Adair, Iowa.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, December 28, 2008 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Casey, Iowa.

Burial with military rites will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Adair, Iowa.

Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com. Memorial contributions may be given to the family in remembrance of Mardell.

Hockenberry Funeral Home in Casey, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.