Kendall and Linda Aeikens

A visitation celebrating Ken and Linda’s lives will be held at Ankeny Funeral Home, 1510 W 1st St. Ankeny, IA 50021, on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ken was born on November 9th, 1955 to Alfred and Annie (Nagel) Aeikens in Sibley, Iowa. He graduated from the Little Rock High School in Little Rock, Iowa. After high school, he attained an Associate’s degree from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, IA. He worked for the state of Iowa as a Grain Elevator Inspector. He then worked for the state of Iowa as a Credit Union Examiner, and eventually got a job at Veridian Credit Union as a loan officer and later as the Internal Audit Manager until his retirement.

While living in Fort Dodge, IA he met Linda Viola Gordon at a ski club gathering. They were united in marriage on November 10, 1990 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. They were blessed with a daughter Kjerstin. He enjoyed watching and playing sports, and played in volleyball leagues in Fort Dodge and Ankeny for many years. He coached Kjerstin’s middle school basketball and volleyball teams and loved attending Kjerstin’s school concerts and other events, especially Kjerstin’s steel drum band, Tropical Steel.

He was an active member in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Ankeny. He liked woodworking and home improvement. He enjoyed watching WWII documentaries and learning about the vehicles used in the war. Ken also did genealogical research about his family, tracing them back to Ellis Island and their homeland of Germany. He did take a trip to Germany to visit his family. In his younger years, he worked the pit crew for his brother’s dirt track racing team.

Ken donated his body to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa. He lived with a heart pump for many years and hoped his contribution would help others in the future.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Annie Aeikens; brothers, Dale and David Aeikens; and niece, Shannon Aeikens. He was survived by his wife, Linda Aeikens, until her passing in August 2023. He is survived by his daughter, Kjerstin Aeikens of Des Moines, IA; brothers, Glenn (Pat) Aeikens of Spirit Lake, IA and Alfred (Sherry) Aeikens of Ellsworth, MN; sisters-in-law, Roberta Aeikens of Sibley, IA and Sharon Kampman of Orange City, IA; and several nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

Blessed Be His Memory.

Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Ken.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the Aeikens family.

Linda Viola Aeikens, age 73, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away Monday, August 7th, 2023 at her home.

A visitation celebrating Linda and Ken’s lives will be held at Ankeny Funeral Home, 1510 W 1st St. Ankeny, IA 50021, on Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Linda was born on January 13th, 1950 to Homer Eldon and Leona Annette (Rasmussen) Gordon in Springfield, Minnesota. She graduated high school in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. After high school, Linda graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was very proud of her degree, and enjoyed telling stories about her time at “Augie”.

After college, Linda lived in Fort Dodge, IA and worked as a teacher in Barnum and later in Fort Dodge for many years. While in Fort Dodge she met Kendall “Ken” Ray Aeikens at a ski club gathering. They were united in marriage on November 10, 1990 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. They were blessed with a daughter Kjerstin. Linda was a devoted wife and mother, and was a homemaker for her family after they moved to Ankeny.

Linda loved music, and directed the church youth choir when Kjerstin was a child. She enjoyed going to musicals and shows at the Civic Center and attending Kjerstin’s school concerts and other events, especially Kjerstin’s steel drum band, Tropical Steel. She was a skilled organist and was the youngest organist her church ever had. She could also play the accordion, piano, and clarinet.

Linda loved teaching and could remember all of her students by name. She was an active member in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Ankeny. She loved going on vacation to new places with friends and family, and she always enjoyed looking at the scenery on the way. Linda was a bargain hunter at local thrift shops and garage sales, and she also loved crossword puzzles, word searches, and photography.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Leona Gordon; and husband, Ken Aeikens. She is survived by her daughter, Kjerstin Aeikens of Des Moines, IA, and other extended family.

Blessed Be Her Memory.

Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Linda.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the Aeikens family.