Local attorney Walker retires from the law

After 41 years practicing law, attorney Lee “Ken” Walker has retired. Finishing up at the end of September, Walker celebrated his final days at the office with a small party with family and friends.

Born in Georgia, Walker lived many places throughout the southern United State before moving to Newton in 1965 when his father, a doctor, took a position with Maytag. He started school as a sophomore in high school and graduated from Newton.

Even after his father left the city in 1968 to continue his passion of setting up free medical clinics, Walker stayed in the community. He attended Central College with his wife Randa and later gradated from Drake Law School.

During that time he grew his family with his oldest son, Corey, born in 1972 and twins Kerry and Kelly born in 1975. All three of his sons attended Newton community schools and were active in sports during their time there.

While providing law services to the community, Walker focused on helping local residents with divorces, real estate, estate planning, probate and many other legal matters. He was mentored by notable figures such as Judge Harold Fleck, Done Salsberry and Charles Larson.

His former law partner Jake Feuerhelm told a memorable story about a divorce case he and Walker worked on with Walker representing the wife and Feuerhelm representing the husband.

“They had been married for many years and during a temporary hearing our clients started talking about their kids, grandkids and neighbors,” Feuerhelm said. “Ken took out his billfold, grabbed a few $20 bills, slapped them on the table and said, ‘take this money, go out to dinner and drop the divorce.’ The couple looked at each other, took the money and the next day dropped the divorce.”

“Ken did not make any money from the case, but he achieved an outcome for those two that a courtroom would never provide.”

Another former colleague former Sen. Dennis Black said Walker has a heart of gold and has done so much for the well-being of others.

Walker also stayed active in the community by volunteering on numerous boards including the United Way, Jaycees, Capstone, Legal Aid and many others. He has also done a vast amount of pro-bono legal work, representing hundreds of local residents at no or very low cost, who otherwise could not afford legal help.

Walker’s legacy lives on through his son, Corey, who followed in his footsteps and has worked with him since 1995. Kerry also lives in Newton and runs the local ServiceMaster franchise while Kelly lives in North Carolina where he is vice president of McKeeson Corporation.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson
at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534
or jpierson@newtondailynews.com