Kenneth Kaiser

Kenneth Kaiser, 94, of Taylor Ridge, Illinois, passed away April 3, 2025, peacefully at home with his family.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 9 2025, at the Edgington Evangelical Presbyterian Church from noon – 2:00 p.m. with services to follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Edgington Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Ken was born to Elmer and Grace Kaiser on June 30, 1930. He always talked about his wonderful childhood growing up in Moline near Wharton Field House. He and his friends spent a lot of time playing in the swampy area that is now Southpark. He graduated from Moline High School in 1949.

He belonged to the National Guard and 223rd field artillery for 5 years where he was a mess sergeant. He attended regular army school in Fort Sheridan and during that time enjoyed taking underprivileged boys on camping trips to Wisconsin. Ken was also a member of the Masonic Lodge 23rd degree.

He met his wife Carol Irene at Lake Story in Galesburg, IL with a chance encounter when both ran to help a young boy who had fallen on the steps. They were married on April 10th, 1954, in Chicago, IL. and enjoyed a wonderful 67 years of marriage. Ken would be the first to tell you he had a truly blessed life and he was anxious to join his wife, Carol, who passed away in 2022 and he dearly missed.

Ken’s work ethic started young with one of his first jobs delivering coal before and after school in a wheelbarrow. His first real job was at the original Whitey’s Ice Cream and whenever we stopped there through the years, he would be sure to tell the servers that his first job was there. His early career included, among other jobs, being a lineman for Iowa Illinois Gas & Electric (MidAmerican Energy) until he moved to the country to help his family in a new business, Edgington Food and Locker, which he and his family owned and operated for 45 years. He treasured those years and always talked about how welcoming the community was to him and how he valued his many customers and friends he met through the years.

Ken loved to strike up a conversation with strangers, anyone who was willing to talk (or listen) and he was always very noticeable in one of his many hats.

Ken loved his children, grandchild, and great grandchildren and always had a stash of new presents for when they came to visit. Ken also greatly appreciated his Edgington Evangelical Presbyterian Church family and until recently enjoyed lunch with several of them and his friend Gary Marti each Sunday.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brothers Richard Kaiser and Kay Kaiser, and sister-in-law Nancy Kaiser.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Ken Kaiser, Des Moines, IA, Karrie (Wyatt) Fuhr, Taylor Ridge; grandchild, Tia Fuhr (Wes Steele), Milan; cherished great grandsons, Arlo and Hank, Milan; as well as many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

The family wants to thank all of the doctors, nurses, medical staff, and UnityPoint hospice personnel who have treated him through his life.

Memories may be shared at esterdahl.com.