Kenneth Farrell
October 9, 1945 ~ February 4, 2012
Kenneth William Farrell, age 66 of New Hampton, Iowa died Saturday February 4, 2012, at the Country View Care Center in Waterloo, IA, after a lenghtly battle with Parkinson's Disease.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at Holy Family Parish – St. Joseph Center, New Hampton with Rev. Mark Osterhaus celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed on the casket by his daughters and son-in-law, Todd Suhr. Son-in-law, James Neuzil will be the lector. His ten grandchildren will present the offertory gifts.
Interment will be in the New Hampton City Cemetery with John Farrell, Jerry Farrell, Jim Howe, Jim Trainor, Al Hejna and Todd Suhr serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Jack Whalen, Richard Briggs, Larry Braniff, Kevin Sutton, Jim Farrell, Steve Farrell and his grandchildren.
Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, 2012, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.
Kenneth William Farrell was born October 9, 1945, in Charles City, the son of Joseph and Maxine (Marker) Farrell. He grew up in North Washington and attended St. Mary’s Grade School in North Washington through the eighth grade. The Farrell family moved to Charles City where Kenneth finished his education and was a graduate of the Charles City High School Class of 1963. On March 20, 1965, he married Julaine Howe. The couple were blessed with five daughters. Kenneth and Julaine made New Hampton their home where they raised their family. Kenneth began working at John Deere in Waterloo in 1966 and retired after 32 years in 1998.
Kenny’s interests include working on cars, snowmobiling and his passion for stock car racing. Over the years he had numerous wins and track championships. His car number was 78 and he was a legend in the local racing circuit for over 35 years. He also enjoyed driving the support vehicle for all his daughters on RAGBRAI. His wife, Julaine died on December 11, 2010 at the age of 62.
Survivors include five daughters; Shelly (Todd) Suhr of New Hampton, Karri Simpson of Cedar Rapids, Penney (James) Neuzil of Ft. Atkinson, Robyn (Tony) Crawford of New Hampton, Kelley Farrell of Cedar Rapids; ten grandchildren, Dylan Suhr, Levi Suhr, Nolan Hromidko, Brock Hromidko, Rylee Simpson, Paige Nelson, Curtis Nelson, Taylor Neuzil, Ashlee Crawford and Caycee Crawford; his mother, Maxine Farrell of Charles City; two brothers, John Farrell of Charles City, Jerry (Sherry) Farrell of Hudson; two nephews, Jim (Brandi) Farrell of Johnstown, CO, Steve Farrell of Gooselake, IA; his mother-in-law, Bernadine Howe of Rockford, two brothers-in-law, Dennis (Diane) Howe of Mason City, James (Rhonda) Howe of Rockford; three sisters-in-law, Janelle (Dana) Larson of Rudd, Diane Howe of Rockford, Kathy (Bryan) Hobbs of Rudd.
He was preceded in death by his wife, his father and one nephew, Rodney Farrell.
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So sorry to hear of Kenny’s passing. He was always interested in engines.I remember one time when Joe and Almina lived in,I think it was Washington Ia, Kenny sitting on an enclosed porch with a lawn mower motor all torn apart having a ‘discussion’ with Joe about how to get it back together. We have fond memories of Kenny. He will be missed.
Our sympathy to all of you. We loved cheering for your dad over the years when he raced.
Tony and Robyn Sorry to hear about your Dad’s death. Just happened to read it on the website and wanted to offer our condolences. Always keep the memories alive. Take care, Dave & Cindi Freidhof
Shelly, Todd et.al, Sorry I could not attend services for Ken but we are in Florida for the winter. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Lyle Hansen
You are in our thoughts and prayers mark & sally schwartzhoff
Robyn – so sorry to hear about your dads passing. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kelley, I am sadden to hear this. You are truly a wonderful person and one of the strongest people I know. Please let me know what i can do for you.
Shelly, Todd and boys: So sorry to hear of your father’s passing. Thinkiing of you guys! Ed, Lavonne, Eadie and Ely Suhr
We are sorry to hear about your dad. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time. May the memories always be strong in your hearts. the Van Oorts
To all the Farrell Family… God’s peace to you in your hours of saddness. I just ran across the obit in the Courier while looking for something else. I have many memories of Kenny while growing up in North Washington! His suffering is no longer… and he is now at peace. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Your in my thoughts and prayers
so sorry to hear of the passing of your dad. He was a great man and will be truely missed. Just remember in these hard times how much he loved you all and remember the good times that you had with him. I will keep you in my thoughts during these hard times.
Robyn, I am so sorry for your loss! Remember all of your best memories with your father. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. With all my sympathies, Lori
Sorry to all to hear about Kenny……Hugs to all! Thinking of you all at this time.
John, Jerry, Max, and Kenny’s Daughters: Our prayers and sympathy to all of you. We were fans of # 78 in the days of racing. Leon remembers babysitting Kenny, John, and Jerry in North Washington, on Sat. evenings. Lots of good memories. We are thinking of you.
Wow! Sorry to hear of your dad’s passing!! I was taken back when I saw this. Thinking of you guys, he will be missed!! Thoughts and prayers, Denise
To the Farrell family girls, so sorry to hear of the lose of your dad. Our sympathy goes out to you all.
So sorry to hear about Ken’s passing. When I was a kid growing up around stock car racing, I was lucky to watch Ken race against my dad at Webster City and Mason City. Iowa dirt racing has lost a very talented legend.
Karri, I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. I remember how fun both your parents were when I got to stay over at your house growing up. Just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you and your family at this hard time.
Kenny was a good friend for many years, even though we had lost touch the last several years. Kenny was a regular competitor at Webster City back in the 80’s and 90’s where I first started announcing. Kenny was always very gracious to me and he was always a strong contender. We shared a lot of laughs and Kenny always had a story to tell. I would like to extend my sympathies to Kenny’s family and extend my wishes for Gods speed to a great man. Jerry Mackey
Rest in Peace Kenny – You will be missed– Vince
Todd& Shelly, thinking of you and the rest of your family,in this sad time. Kenny was a great man, i learn from him while we all raced around. He will be missed.
Our deepest sympathy to all of you in the loss of your father. May the wonderful memories you have help ease your sorrow.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at loss of your father. Hold your memories close to your heart, may they help you through this sad time.
Kelley, My deepest sympathy for the loss of your Dad. I will be keeping you and your family in my prayers! I am thinking of you girl!
Kenny you will be missed,!! praying that you have a lot of laps,and fun, remembering no 78,Later no. 3#
Shelly, Karri, Penney, Robyn, & Kelley, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. He was a sweet man and I enjoyed hearing stories about him and how much fun you all had with him as kids. I know that you will miss him a lot and I am sure that your mom is happy to be with him again. You are all in my thoughts and in my prayers. All my love #6 (& Chad)
I just heard of Kenny’s passing. I was a race fan and also was lucky enough to race against Kenny later on in his career. He always commanded respect from the fellow racers and fans. He will be greatly missed!!! My Dad(Dick Kuykendall, and my grandfather(Clyde Kuykendall) also had a ton of respect for Kenny. Prayers for Todd and the entire family
Thinking of you at this difficult time.
Prayers from all the Farrell cousins to Almin, Jerry, John and families and to Kenny’s daughters and families. So sorry to hear that Kenny is gone from us but suffers no longer. No more pain and no more tears. He is in a better place but will be missed here on earth.
sorry to hear about your dad, you are in our thoughts
Shelly, Karri, Penney, Robyn, and Kelley, My sympathy to all of you with the loss of your dad. You girls have been through so much together in the past couple of years, it has brought you together ins ways of sadness, joy, laughter and great memories. God’s blessings to you all.
Very sorry to hear of Kenny passing!! Many great memories! Will be thinking about you girls!
i rememberd kenny racing that #78 for many years at mason city and webster city he sure will be missed on earth but heven got one heck of a good person and driver so sorry for your loss in my thoughts and prayers god be with you all
Shelly, Karri, Penney, Robyn, and Kelley – my thoughts and prayers go out to you all! I can just imagine that your mom and dad are at some Stock Car Race up in heaven together! Healthy and smiling down at their beautiful girls and grandchildren! God Bless!
To the Farrell girls and families, So sorry for your loss of your Dad. He was a very fun loving man. Just remember him and Mom are together again. Hugs for you all in this time of loss. The Zeien Family
sorry to hear of his passing have a lot a good memories of him and his racing days
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