Kenneth William Adomat Sr.

Kenneth W. Adomat Sr., age 77, of Blue Grass, IA, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020, at Select Specialty Hospital in Davenport, IA, after chronic health issues led to pneumonia and respiratory failure.

Born to the late William and Helen Adomat, Kenneth grew up in Davenport and was a member of the inaugural senior class of West High School. Following graduation in 1961, Kenneth entered the US Navy and served two years before a jeep accident prompted an honorable medical discharge.

He attended Eastern Iowa Community College and then graduated from the Rock Island Arsenal Apprentice Program in 1970. Kenneth was employed for many years as a journeyman machinist, creating finished products for the Department of the Army from blocks of steel using cutting tools, high precision measuring tools, files and other types of equipment. After retiring from the Arsenal, he worked several years as a school bus and bookmobile driver. Kenneth also dabbled in entrepreneurship, selling Rocky Dell Spring Water and establishing Anita & Ken’s Professional Aquarium Maintenance Service, offering home and commercial aquarium installation and ongoing care, as well as AK Buttons & More, a professional-quality pin-back button business.

Kenneth met Anita Conklin from Sioux Falls, SD, on a blind date arranged by friends. They married on May 11, 1968, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, and then settled in Davenport. In June 1972, they moved to Blue Grass where they raised their two daughters and son. The family enjoyed many summer vacations at Lake Okoboji, IA, and visiting relatives in Sioux Falls. Kenneth imparted a strong work ethic on his children. They learned to get up before the sun to dig worms for a good day of fishing and the importance of weeding and nurturing a garden to yield a good crop of vegetables. During his lifetime, Kenneth was involved in several organizations: Blue Grass Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, The Shriners, Masonic Lodge, Moose Lodge and The American Legion. Kenneth also explored many hobbies and interests over the years, including gardening, hunting, fishing, metal detecting, biking, genealogy and amateur radio. He tried golf, but preferred watching the pros play on television. In later years, he and Anita enjoyed feeding and observing the birds that visited their backyard.

Kenneth answered to many names in his lifetime: Sonny, Ken, Kenny, Big Ken, Daddy, Dad and Grandpa. He liked to remark, “You can call me anything, just don’t call me late to dinner.” He was a jokester ahead of his time – spouting dad jokes years before they were a pop culture commonality. He was quick to smile and laugh or lend a helping hand. Kenneth was generous, donating many gallons of blood over the years to the local blood bank. He was also a perpetual optimist, frequently playing his lucky numbers in Powerball; he simply ran out of time before good luck came through.

Grateful to have shared his life and love are Anita, his wife for over 50 years; his daughters, Karen (Jay) Schroeder of Sioux Falls, SD, and Angie (Dale) Burton of Blue Grass, IA; his son, Kenneth Jr. (Amber) of Walcott, IA; his brother, Richard (Jean) Adomat of Bluffton, SC; his sister, Shirley Sittler of Waukesha, WI; his grandchildren Alexis, Kaitlynn, Abby, Ethan, Andrew and Kaleb; and his great-grandchildren Jayce, Bentley and Jaxson. Nieces, nephews, siblings-in-law and friends will also miss him. Besides his parents, Kenneth was predeceased by his sister, Sharon Giery.

UPDATE:

Interment Service & Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 14, 2021.

2:00

Interment of Kenneth's ashes with military funeral honors at Rock Island National Cemetery.

3:00-6:00

Join family and friends at Blue Grass Legion to share memories at an open house style event. A light cold buffet will be served.

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Please view Ken's photo montage video here ---> http://tiny.cc/kenadomat

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