Kenneth Brockhouse

Kenneth W. Brockhouse, 82, a resident of Bettendorf, Iowa and formerly of Pleasant Valley, Iowa died on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at Trinity Bettendorf.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley.  He will be laid to rest at Pleasant Valley Cemetery where military honors will be conducted. Memorial visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pleasant Valley Schools Educational Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church of Pleasant Valley or the Buffalo Bill American Legion Post 347 of LeClaire.

He was born in Arenzville, Illinois on May 27, 1932, the son of Olaf Earnest and Wilma Lucille (Suratt) Brockhouse.  He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.  Upon his honorable discharge in 1954, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

On September 7, 1958, he was united in marriage to Shirley Ann Burkhart in Hawkeye, Iowa.

Ken was employed as a resource manager for the Rock Island Arsenal, retiring on January 1, 1993 after 33 years of federal service.  He also worked as a Federal Bank examiner/auditor of Savings & Loan Associations.

He received a BA in Business from St. Ambrose College with minors in Accounting, History and Political Science plus numerous military career field advanced courses.  In addition, he received instruction in Resource Management, Supervisory Development, Total Quality Management for Executives, Organization Leadership for Executives, Army Installation Management and Military Comptrollership.

Ken was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Pleasant Valley where he served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer.  He also was a former member, secretary and treasurer of the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, a member and past-president of the former Osteopathic Hospital Board, a member and past-president of the Pleasant Valley Community School Board and a board member of the Pleasant Valley Community School Foundation.  In addition, he was a 60 plus year member of the Buffalo Bill American Legion Post #347 of LeClaire where he served as Commander, Adjutant and Finance Officer.  Ken was also a member of the American Legion State Foundation Board.

Among the things he enjoyed were hunting, fishing, gardening, doing yard work, mushroom hunting and the love of the out-of-doors.

Those left to honor his memory include his beloved wife, Shirley; his daughters, Julie A. (Simon) Hughes of Gurnee, Illinois, Jodi L. (Bill) Osborn of Winter Haven, Florida and Tina M. (Chuck) O’Brien of Hoffman Estates, Illinois; his sons, Barry O. (Lori) Brockhouse of Riverdale, Iowa, Scott A. Brockhouse of Davenport, Iowa and Bryan K. Brockhouse of Pleasant Valley; nine grandchildren; his sisters, Glenna L. Pendleton of Grand Mound, Iowa and Evalie M. (Jack) Grothusen of Bettendorf; his brother, Robert L. (Carol) Brockhouse of Bettendorf; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends.

Ken’s primary focus in life was to give his best to his family, his fellow man, community and country without expectations of recognition, credit or gratitude.  An anonymous quote that he lived by went as follows: “ I shall pass through this world but once.  Any good therefore that I can do or say, kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now.  Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again .”

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Earl Brockhouse.