Kenneth Salmon

Kenneth Salmon, 88, of Wakefield, NE passed away with his family by his side on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City, IA. Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor Barbara Hansen will be officiating. The visitation will be Tuesday, November 1, 2016 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Bressler-Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the Gardner Senior Center or the family for future designation. Arrangements are under the direction of Bressler-Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield, NE.Kenneth was born February 25, 1928 to Fred and Helena (Mecke) Salmon. He was the 9th born out of 15. He graduated from Concord High School in 1945. On October 9, 1949, he married Elaine Kunz at Redeemer Church in Wayne and the couple had one daughter, Donna. Elaine and Ken were married for 57 years until her death in 2006. On July 26, 2008, he married an old high school friend, Phyllis (Reynolds) Rubeck. Ken was a member of the Hospital and Care Center Board, and in 1949, became a member of the fire department where he remained for 38 years. He was named Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief for several years and helped organize the Wakefield Rescue Squad. Ken joined Salmon Well Company in 1953 which celebrated 100 years of service in 2014. He began drilling wells with the cable tools that his father made. Ken was a member of the National Water Well Association and the state association for 50 years. He was also an avid fisherman and spent his free time making lures. Ken won several Master Angler awards. Ken enjoyed the coffee crowd at Sidelines every morning and afternoon. Ken is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Wakefield, NE; daughter, Donna Preston and friend Larry Leapley of Yankton, SD; 2 grandchildren, Dawn (Tim) Bowder and Jim (Virginia) Preston; 5 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren, as well as 5 step children, 10 step grandchildren and 9 step great grandchildren; two sisters, Mae Schwarten of Wakefield, NE and Mary Garvin of Dixon, NE; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Salmon. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elaine; five sisters; seven brothers; and son-in-law, Mike Preston.