Kenneth Wayne Techau

Kenneth Wayne Techau

Cedar Rapids

Kenneth Wayne Techau, 90, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023, at Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion, Iowa. Inurnment with military honors will be held at a later date at Springdale Friends Cemetery, Cedar County, Iowa.

Kenneth (Ken) was born May 30, 1932, near Tipton, Iowa, son of Elmer and Helen (Gerber) Techau. He grew up in Tipton and joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, serving on the U.S.S. Renshaw in Japan, Korea, Midway and Hawaii during the Korean conflict with an honorable discharge in 1955. On March 10, 1956, he married Beverly Maxson, in Springdale, Iowa, and to this marriage son, Kevin and daughter, Lisa were born. He went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University in 1961.

Ken worked 26 years for the Social Security Administration, working in Des Moines, Mason City, Omaha, and Dubuque concluding in Cedar Rapids, where he served as assistant district and district office manager for 17 years, until he retired in 1987. He was widowed in 1978 when Bev died, and he married Jacqueline Hegwood in 1988. Ken and Jackie lived in Reno, Nev., and Gilbert, Ariz. Jackie died in 2001 and Ken returned to live in Marion.

Ken was an enthusiastic community supporter and was greatly involved in civic affairs. He served two terms on the Marion Independent School Board and one term on the Marion City Council. He was very active in Lions as a long-time member of the Marion Noon Lions Club, as well as Lions Clubs in Reno and Gilbert. Ken received the Warren Coleman Honorary Award and was a Melvin Jones Fellow. He belonged to American Legion Post 298, Marion, Iowa. Locally he was a long-time volunteer at Ushers Ferry Historic Village, St. Luke’s Hospital and Habit for Humanity, and also volunteered at food banks in Reno and Gilbert.

Ken was a tremendous role model for his children and grandchildren, a good man with a big heart. He found great joy spending time with his family. He taught his children the value of education, how to balance a career and home life, the importance of service to others, the need to have fun and laugh, and the joy of travel.

Ken had a passion for sports and attended as many of his grandchildren’s sporting activities as possible and cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes. He will be missed dearly, but his legacy will live on through his family, friends and all who he has touched.

Ken is survived and lovingly remembered by his son, Kevin (Stephanie) Techau of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Lisa (Patrick) Welsh of Cedar Rapids, grandchildren, Maxson and Grace Techau, Jenna (Cody) Jandik and Shaun Welsh; great-grandchildren, Griffin and Breccan Jandik; sister, Linda Rasavong of Cedar Falls; brother-in-law, Ed Cusher of Waterloo; sister-in-law, Pat Small of California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Helen; brother, Jack Techau; sisters, Nancy Techau and Donna Cusher; and wives, Beverly Techau and Jackie Techau

Memorials in Ken’s memory may be directed to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank Fund.

Please share a memory of Ken at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.