Kenneth Wayne Neff

Kenneth Wayne Neff, 81, of Monroe, passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, at Comfort House in Pella. A memorial service to celebrate Kenny’s life will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Monroe United Methodist Church. The family will greet friends from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and burial with military rites will follow the service at Silent City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Comfort House, the Quilts of Valor Monroe Honor Guild or the Monroe United Methodist Church and condolences may be left for the family at coburnfneralhomes.com.

The son of Floyd E. and Mary E. (Shore) Neff, Kenny was born Dec. 11, 1939. He graduated from Monroe High School in 1958 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1965, working as an aircraft mechanic at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. On June 10, 1962, he married Dawn Love, his high school sweetheart and the “Love” of his life, and in 1965, their daughter Kendi was born. Following Kenny’s service in the Air Force, they returned to Monroe, where they built their dream home and he planned to live until he was 85. But cancer robbed him of his final four years — something none of those who loved him saw coming.

For most of his 28-year career, Kenny worked for Anderson-Erickson Dairy in Des Moines, a job he enjoyed and where he made many lifelong friends. He was a member of the Monroe United Methodist Church, the Monroe American Legion Post 363 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Over the years, Kenny enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing cards and the lottery, golfing, mowing, Hawkeye football and spending time with friends. But his greatest source of joy was undoubtedly his family, who will miss him deeply. He was an extraordinary husband, dad, father-in-law and grandpa, who was generous and kind and who loved unconditionally.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Dawn; a daughter, Kendi Neff-Parvin and her husband Randy; two granddaughters, Haley and Ainsley Parvin; and two brothers, Francis (Violet) Neff and Dwight (Karen) Neff. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Judy Neff and Kay (John) Iwen; brother-in-law, Joel (Jayne) Love; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews. Preceding Kenny in death were his parents; sister, Joann Clark and her husband David; brother, Robert Neff and his wife Wanda Neff Burkett; and brother Cecil Neff.