Kenneth Arnote

Kenneth B. Arnote Sr., also known as Papa Ken and PK, age 92, of Albion, Iowa, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2022 at the Iowa River Hospice Home.

Services for Ken will take place on Saturday, October 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown with Chaplain Harlan Nuss officiating. He will be laid to rest at Albion Cemetery. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation on Friday, October 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for later designation. For additional questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Kenneth Bruce Reamer was born on February 23, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan to Kenneth and Helen “Ruby” (Arrowsmith) Reamer. He was adopted by his great aunt and uncle, Inez (Beale) and Fred Arnote, and lived his first nine years in Missouri. After Fred’s passing, Ken relocated with his mother, Inez, to Albion, Iowa. He graduated from Albion High School in 1947.

He married the love of his life, Barb Geerdes, on November 15, 1969. They made their home in Albion, where they raised their two children. For 35 years, Ken worked as a machinist at Fisher Controls. He also worked for several area farmers, farming the land and taking care of their animals. In retirement, when one job would end, he would always find another to take its place. He promoted himself to “VP of Operations” of their gardens at home. He worked for Quality Electric, Controltech, and on many other construction projects with family and friends throughout the years.

Ken was an active member of the Lions Club and the Albion Methodist Church. He was also involved in the Central Iowa Daylily Society and other garden clubs with Barb. He enjoyed staying active, tending to their flower and vegetable gardens and playing slow-pitch softball until age 70. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He would help anyone who needed help and had a soft heart for animals, especially his dogs and cats over the years.

He loved his wife more than anything in the world. Ken’s care for Barb allowed her to stay home much longer than she could have without his love and dedication.

Ken is survived by his beloved wife, Barb of Westbrook Acres; his two children: Kenny (Brenda) Arnote Jr. of Albion and Shawnee Holtkamp of Bondurant; grandchildren: Ashley (Austin) Hillebo, Brayden Arnote (Haley Vajgrt), Amber and Avery Holtkamp and his great-grandson, Koe Hillebo.

In eternal life, he is reunited with his birth parents, Ruby and Kenneth Reamer and his adopted parents, Fred and Inez, along with many other precious family members and friends.

Ken’s family would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to the staff of Westbrook Acres and Iowa River Hospice for their exceptional care and compassion during the last months of his life.