Kim Allen Bakken

Care Center in Phoenix, Arizona of early onset Alzheimer’s.

He was born to John and Beverly Bakken on October 8th, 1956 in

Winneshiek County Hospital in Decorah, Iowa. He was baptized at Lincoln

Church in Ridgeway, Iowa on November 4th, 1956. He was confirmed at

St. Peter Lutheran church in Denver, Iowa on March 2nd, 1970. He

graduated from Denver High School in 1974, and after attending a

semester at Waldorf College in Iowa, he moved to Tempe, Arizona where

he graduated from ASU December 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts and

Sciences degree in Industrial Woodworking.

He married his high school sweetheart Joni Henry at King of Glory

Lutheran Church on August 11th, 1984 and they made their home in Mesa,

Arizona where they had three children Chelsea, John, and Betsy. After

working in woodworking and sales Kim and Joni opened Bakken Moulding

Manufacturing and Hardwood sales business in 1985 in Tempe, Arizona.

In 2005, Bakken Moulding moved to its own property in Mesa, Arizona.

Early 2011 Kim was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s leading Kim

and Joni to sell their business and retire. They traveled in a RV for a year

and eventually settled in a home in Apache Wells located in Mesa, Arizona.

Kim had an amazing zest for life, friends, family, and fun. His hobbies and

interests were fishing, racing, golf, and running. He was very involved with

quarter midget racing with his son John, he enjoyed following Chelsea’s

gymnastics and acrobatic career, and was so proud of Betsy who despite

being the youngest sibling, was the first to build a successful career and

give Kim and Joni their first grandchildren. Kim had a special love for

music, singing, and dancing all through his life and his disease. If the right

tune was playing, Kim was never afraid to sing his heart out in any

situation. Throughout Kim’s life, more often than not, he was either

laughing or making those around him laugh. One of the key reasons his

passing leaves such a big hole in the hearts of all who knew him.

Kim is survived by his wife Joni of Mesa, Arizona, daughter Chelsea and

husband Paul Olarte of Walnut Creek, California, son John and special

friend Alysha Reed, his youngest daughter Betsy and her husband

Brennan Moore and their two children MayDee Jo and Millee Denise of

Mesa, Arizona. Mother Beverly Bakken and stepdad Charlie Miller of

Cresco, Iowa. Mother-in-law Mary Henry of Cedar Falls. Sister and

brother Denise Bakken and Todd and Stacey Bakken of Mesa, Arizona,

brother Randy and Tammy Bakken of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Brother-in-law

Randy and Georgia Henry of Cedar Falls. Aunt Sharon (Bakken) McAtee

of Jesup, Iowa, and Janice (Bakken) Ellsworth of LaPorte, Iowa. Many

nieces and nephews and cousins.

Preceded in death by his father John Valjean Bakken. Father in law Dean

Preston Henry, his grandparents Howard and Geneva Bakken, Oran and

Aleda Hove and sister in law Denise Henry.

Services will be held at Mariposa Gardens Chapel at 400 South Power Rd,

Mesa, AZ 85206 at 2:00pm April 4th, 2020. Reception immediately

following at The Monastery Bar and Grill at 4810 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa,

AZ 85215.

Donations can be made to the family, Alzheimer’s Association, or Suncrest

Hospice of Phoenix.