Kenneth "Kenny" Vargason, 77, of Montezuma, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at UnityPoint-Iowa Methodist in Des Moines.

A funeral service will be held 11:00 am, on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Jackson Church of Christ in Montezuma. Visitation will be from 6 pm to 8 pm, on Friday, November 15, 2024, at Jackson Church of Christ in Montezuma. A private family burial will be held at Jackson Township Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family in his name.

Kenny was born on December 30, 1946, the son of Samuel and Dorothy (Birch) Vargason in Vinton, Iowa. He graduated from Blairstown High School with the Class of 1965. Where he played basketball and baseball; but his main interest was hunting and fishing with his dad, uncles, cousins and friends.

Following high school, Kenny worked for Amana Refrigeration and Square D Corporation in Cedar Rapids, before enlisting in the United States Marine Corp in 1967. He served from 1967 to 1970, where he earned the ranking of Corporal. He served his military days in Vietnam, Camp Smith in Hawaii and the Marine Barracks at the U.S. Naval Station in Great Lakes, Illinois. He received three Purple Hearts while serving and had an Honorable Discharge.

Earlier in life, Kenny was blessed with two children, a daughter, Cari Anne and a son, Shelby Samuel. He obtained his AA Degree from Kirkwood College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the field of Parks and Natural Resources. Using his degree, he was employed by the Poweshiek County Conservation Board at Diamond Lake in Montezuma, as a Park Ranger from 1990 until he retired in 2012.

On February 12, 1994, he was united in marriage to Jane Sanders at the Presbyterian Church in Montezuma. To this union he gained two step-sons, Rob and Jamey Gibson.

Kenny liked hunting and fishing with his son and grandsons. He took many trips to Canada with Jane and numerous buddies to catch those huge Walleyes. Hunting elk in Montana with Rick, his lifelong friend, and Shelby was another one of his many hunting expeditions. Hunting deer in Iowa with his son, grandsons, cousins, brother-in-law, John, and several friends was always an adventure he looked forward to.

When not hunting or fishing, he and Jane attended all of their grandsons' track meets, baseball, basketball, hockey and football games, all over the state of Iowa and surrounding states. He also enjoyed watching little Ayva play flag football, soccer, basketball and softball. Kenny and Jane had many years of camping at Diamond Lake and 30 years of camping at the Iowa State Fair, where they not only enjoyed the fair, but made many great friends.

After retirement, Kenny and Jane lived in Montezuma, where he took up gardening and enjoyed his retirement years.

Kenny's legacy will be honored by his wife, Jane; daughter, Cari (Kelly) Minton of Marion, Iowa; son, Shelby (Theresa) Vargason of Walford, Iowa; step-children, Rob (Dee) Gibson of Grinnell, Jamey Gibson and Nyahok Duop of Waxahachie, Texas. Three grandsons, Isaiah Minton, Hunter and Kenin Vargason; five step-grandsons, Jayden, Colin, Brett Gibson and Declan and Wyatt Adams; two granddaughters, Hope Minton and Ayva Olweny. His sisters, Vi Oberreuter of Cedar Rapids and Jan (John) Meyer of Keystone, Iowa; as well as several nieces, nephews and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Samuel Vargason, sister, Dorothy Lahue; brothers-in-law, Ob Oberreuter, Edgar Sanders and Harold Sanders, and a very awesome 19 year old grandson, Drew Aaron Gibson.

Kenneth was very much loved by all and will be missed greatly. He was a Christian and when he became ill…… He wrote….. I am a Child of God. Each day I am one day closer to Heaven.

Cox-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting Kenny's family with arrangements