Kenneth R. Duitsman

Kenneth Ralph Duitsman, 91, died Monday, October 12, 2015 at his home. Visitation was from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 14 at the Ward Funeral Home in Linn. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 15 at the Zion Lutheran Church, Linn. Pastor David Gruoner officiated. Mary Gieseke and Eunice Beier were the organists. Jeremy and Peggy Pera sang “It Is Well With My Soul” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” Congregation hymns were “My Course is Run”, “Jesus Lives! The Victorys Won” and “Behold a Host.” Pallbearers were Brandon Duitsman, Cody Duitsman, Matt Schreiber, Dustin Wilgers, Eric Duitsman and Brett Duitsman. Honorary pallbearers were Carrie Schreiber, Erin Carter, Melanie Marnach, Jami Kreutzer and Heather Katzenmeier. Burial was in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Kenneth was born to Eilert and Bertha(Diedrich) Duitsman at their farm home north of Linn on July 15, 1924. He was baptized on August 3, 1924, making him a child of God for all eternity. Kenneth attended three years at the Star School and five years at Zion Lutheran Parochial School. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at Zion Lutheran Church on April 3,, 1938. He graduated from Linn Rural High School in 1942. On September 4, 1949, he was united in marriage to Irene Tewes at St. John's Lutheran Church, Palmer. They were blessed with three children, James, Kathleen and Bradley. Kenneth was a man of the soil and farmed his entire lifetime. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and held many offices with the church. He was active in the Lutheran Laymen's League at the state, zone and local level. Kenneth also served on the Kansas District Synodical Board of Directors for nine years. Kenneth was a very active community leader being a township trustee for twenty-six years, a leader in the Washington County Farm Bureau and the County Extension. As a young man, Kenneth pitched semi-pro baseball for several teams, many years, in both Kansas and Nebraska. Ken also loved statistics, as he had kept a daily diary since 1968 of rainfall, temperature and other items of interest from day to day. Kenneth was a devoted husband and father. He loved watching his family grow and followed their paths as they grew in their careers and in their sporting endeavors. He was also a loved grandpa by his ten grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Irene of 66 years; three children, James (Joyce) Duitsman, Atchison, Kathy (Russell) Relph, Wichita, Brad (Diane) Duitsman, Washington; ten grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents; and brothers, Wilbert "Bill" Duitsman and Ervin Duitsman. A memorial fund is established to the Zion Lutheran Church, Meadowlark Hospice or the Lutheran Hour. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, Washington. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth R. Duitsman, please visit our flower store.