Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Bronner, 76
Fri, 12/27/2019 - 3:43pm
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Jan. 29, 1943 —
Dec. 20, 2019
CRESCO - Kenneth “Kenny” Bronner, age 76, of Cresco, Iowa, passed away at St. Marys in Rochester, Minn. on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. Friends may call on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019 from 3-6 p.m. at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco and again one hour before services at the church. Lindstrom Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Kenneth Merrill Bronner was born on Jan. 29, 1943 to William and Hazel (Ihns) Bronner in rural Howard County. He attended country school in the Saratoga and Maple Leaf areas and later graduated from Cresco High School with the Class of 1961.
On July 29, 1966, Kenny married Reta Morrison in LaPorte City, Iowa. They continued the celebration with a dance at Matter’s Ballroom in Decorah, Iowa. Their first home as a married couple was in Dewar, Iowa. About a year later, Kenny and Reta moved to an acreage near Mount Auburn, Iowa, where he continued to work for John Deere and began raising livestock. In 1972, they purchased a farm near Kendalville, Iowa. This would become “home,” where he milked cows, raised hogs and crop farmed.
In the 1980s Kenny helped to bring the Farmers Helping Farmers project to Howard and Winneshiek counties, with the help of Father Norm White.
As Kenny semi-retired, he spent time working as a greeter at Hotel Winneshiek in Decorah. He also worked in sales and advertising at the Times Plain Dealer in Cresco from 2000-2007.
Kenny loved Christmas lights and began the tradition of outdoor decorating with his grandchildren in 1998. There were a total of 25 Christmas trees that received holiday sparkle in the Bronner neighborhood.
Grandpa Kenny loved his grandchildren and great-grandchilren. He was famous for making sure they stayed safe by reminding them to “watch out for that bridge.” He will also be remembered for his favorite saying “By Golly.”
He enjoyed farming, feeding and protecting the pheasants, participating in tractor pulls with his Allis Chalmers, watching Western movies and listening to Fox News.
Survivors include his wife of 53-and-a-half years, Reta; four children, Rusty (Terri) Bronner of Cresco, Kenda (Wayne) Franzen of Calmar, Iowa, Kelly (Duane) Bodermann of Elma, Iowa and Kari (Adam) Griffis of Overland Park, Kan.; 13 grandchildren, Jessica (Shawn) Henry, Nicole (Taylor) Wolter, Kelsey (Lonnie) Lenehan, Michael (Jennifer) Bronner, Lindsi (Derek) Hruska, Sara (Nolan) Hageman, Becca Franzen, Colten Hageman, Dillon (Brittany) Bodermann, Brooke (Jon) Berland, Blair Bodermann, Brynn Bodermann, Julia Griffis and Olivia Griffis; and six great-grandchildren, Lexus Henry, Aston Henry, Aiden Lenehan, Emma Lenehan, Amelia Hruska and Owen Hruska.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Hazel Bronner, and his two beloved dogs, Max and Missy.
