Cover photo for Kenneth Bane's Obituary
Kenneth Bane Profile Photo

Kenneth Bane

March 30, 1912 — April 12, 2011

Kenneth Bane

Obituary for Kenneth Bane

Kenneth E. Bane, age 99, son of Isaac and Mae (Potter) Bane, was born March 30, 1912 on the family farm northwest of Oakland, Iowa, and passed on April 14, 2011. Kenneth attended rural schools before entering Oakland High School.

His sense of adventure and travel was awakened in his early teens when his mother's health required wintering in the desert. They had a house truck built and the family traveled throughout the Southwestern states meeting hunters, trappers, cowboys and hearing tales of Mexican revolutionaries along the border. In his early twenties, Kenneth built a sailboat on the farm and with a cousin sailed it down the Missouri/Mississippi rivers into the Gulf of Mexico ending their journey at Corpus Christi, Texas. He built several other boats before restoring an airplane and taking up flying.

Kenneth married Dorothy Sarah McPherrin on January 2, 1939 and became the third generation to run the Bane family farm and raise a family there. He semi-retired in 1967 when his sons took over management of the farm. He had an active involvement in the spring and fall farm work into his 90's.

Activities in Oakland included: 4-H, County Soil Commissioner, president of the Oakland School Board, 50 year member and past Master of the Oakland Masonic Lodge, and he was instrumental in the founding of the Oakland Manor and remained on its board for many years. He also was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and flew on search and rescue missions for downed aircraft and flood victims.

In 1968, Kenneth and Dorothy bought one of the first Winnebago motor homes manufactured and traveled extensively throughout the U.S. (including Alaska), Mexico, and Canada. They were involved in gem and mineral collecting during their travels. He became a licensed amateur radio (Ham) operator to keep in touch with the family. Always ready for an adventure, he learned to wind surf at age 72.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents; his eldest son, Kenneth Mac; his sisters Doris Bane and Marjorie Stevens; and brothers, Oscar, Robert and John Bane.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy, of 72 years; his children Rodney (Irene) Bane of Oakland, Sally (Dick) Lynas of Imperial Beach , CA, and Joel (Pam) Bane of Oakland; his grandchildren Teresa (Jim) Terakubo, Melinda (Alan) Scarf, Lisa Bane, Betsy Bane, Janet (Brett) Bane Schafer, Eric Bane and Kevin Bane; and seven great grandchildren.

On June 2, 2011, following Kenneth's death, Lisa unexpectedly passed.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Bane, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 3

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree