Elijah “Ken” Kenneth Brunson of Polk City, Iowa went to be with the Lord February 7, 2025 at the age of 75. He passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Taylor Hospice House, Des Moines.
Ken was born on Father’s Day, June 19,1949 in Deming, New Mexico. He was the oldest of three boys born to Leonard and Ramona Brunson. The family moved to the Tulsa, Oklahoma area when he was just a toddler. He attended school through his sophomore year in the small town of Inola. His childhood was full of activities; riding bikes, 4-H, baseball, basketball, riding horses and really any sport or ‘outside fun’ filled up his time. He learned early on the importance of hard work through his paper route and helping with his grandpa’s construction business.
Starting his junior year of high school, he went to Spring Vale Academy, a Christian boarding school in Owosso, Michigan. In a short time, his family followed him and relocated to Michigan as well. While he was at Spring Vale he made many lifelong friends, special memories and was involved in some creative pranks (which he loved sharing about). He had great memories of being on the varsity basketball team and singing in various groups during his time at Spring Vale. He graduated from high school in 1967.
Ken was a lifelong learner with a special love for history. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from John Wesley College (’71), a Bachelor’s degree in History and Language Arts from Michigan State University (’76) and a Master in Theology from Summit School of Theology (’78), Denver, CO. He continued to take classes throughout his life always wanting to expand his knowledge.
He met his wife, Janice when she attended Spring Vale Academy. They fell in love and married in 1974. Ken and Janice moved to Denver, Colorado in 1976 where their first two children were born. During the years in Colorado, they enjoyed camping, backpacking, fishing and hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Ken began his pastoral career in 1979 and pastored churches in Grand Prairie, TX, Tulsa, OK, and Marion, IA. In 1992, Ken began teaching with the public school system and Anamosa Prison. During this time, Ken and Janice chose to expand their family by adopting 4 children and bringing more love and laughter into their home. He retired from teaching in 2007.
Ken will be remembered for so many things, including being a teacher, pastor, coach, friend, father, brother, grandfather and husband. He had varied interests including everything western, cowboys and John Wayne, cars, sports, music, history, a passion for researching family heritage, reading voraciously and writing. He reached one of his lifetime goals by writing and publishing a western novel, “Comanche Rattle”. Ken never knew a stranger. He loved sharing stories and talking about any subject with anyone, anywhere, anytime. His favorite subject of all was sharing his love of the Lord and what God did in his life.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Janice; daughters, Sarah Reineke (Glen), Ruth Martinez (Fidel), Julia Stovie (Travis); sons, Jeff Brunson, Noah Brunson; nine grandchildren including Lexi, Isabella, Emma, Grace and Makayla; brother, Dave Brunson and two half-sisters, Amy Dark and Estel Bruwer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Cole Ray Brunson; brother, William Delbert Brunson and cousin (like a brother), Robert Hendershott.
“You’re going to think I’m being corny, but this is how I really feel: I hope my family and my friends will be able to say that I was an honest, kind and fairly decent man.” – John Wayne
A celebration of life will be held March 3rd, 2025, 11:00 am at HOPE (Lutheran Church of Hope) 520 NW 36th St., Ankeny, Iowa. There will be a lunch following the service – all are welcome.