Kenneth Lloyd Gode

Kenneth Gode, 81, died on Saturday morning, May 7, 2022, at his home in Clontarf. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 16, 2022, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at The Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, with a Rosary at 4:45 pm and a Parish Prayer Service at 7:00 pm and will continue on Tuesday May 17 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am. Burial will be in the St. Malachy Catholic Church Cemetery in Clontarf. Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements. Kenneth Lloyd Gode was born on June 6, 1940, at the Springfield Hospital, in Springfield, Minnesota, the son of Lloyd and Edna (Haak) Gode. He was baptized in 1940 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sanborn, Minnesota by the Rev. R. Schierenbeck, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church on April 11, 1954, at Fairfield Township. Ken grew up on a farm west of Clontarf. He attended school at District #81 Tara Township through the 8th grade and graduated from Benson Senior High School in 1958. After working for a year at the Langan Farm, Ken entered the United States Air Force. Ken was stationed at Sheperd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, the Philippines and Rantoul, Illinois. He served his country from 1959 to 1963. Ken was united in marriage to Donna Fennell on December 23, 1961, at St. Malachy Catholic Church Rectory in Clontarf by Father Richard King. This union was blessed with over 53 years of marriage and four children. They resided in Rantoul, Illinois until 1963 and moved back to Clontarf and built their house in 1966 for $11,000.00 and has lived there since. Ken worked at Pioneer Telephone Company in Benson, which later became United Telephone, Sprint, Century Link and now Verizon. Ken retired from the telephone company in 2002. Ken also owned and operated Clontarf Bike and Trike Shop, where he repaired bikes and trikes on the side. After retiring, Ken and Donna, were able to take some Rustad Bus Tours, including Alaska, New Orleans, Arizona, Branson, Missouri and Mackinac Island, Michigan, and they traveled to Hawaii with Donna’s sister and her husband. Ken was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Clontarf Fire Department, St. Malachy’s Men’s Club, Clontarf Centennial Committee, and a baseball coach for Clontarf Little League. He was a member of St. Malachy’s Catholic church where he served as a lector, and usher, and an eucharistic minister. Ken enjoyed wood working and started a little craft business called “KenDo Krafts.” He also enjoyed gardening, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, carpentry work, cruising on his golf cart, and watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Ken loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He was called from this life on Saturday morning, May 7, 2022, at his home in Clontarf. He attained the age of 81 years, 11 months, and 1 day. Kenneth Gode is survived by his children: Carol (Tom) Staton, Bradley (Sharon) Gode, Lori (Marc) Yanish all of Clontarf and Joseph Gode of Willmar; 8 grandchildren: Brent Staton, Amanda (Josh) Staton-Alacantar, Luke (Megan) Staton, Molly (Ryan) Harden, Lakeshia (Bobby) Crow, Andrew Fath, Kelly (Matt) Molden, and Jarett Yanish: 10 great grand children Baylee Staton, Caitlynn Alcantar, Kimberlynn and Daxton Pownell, Olivia Staton, Emma and MacKenzie Crow, James Mast, Elise and Magnus Molden; and his sisters Joan (Don) Wacha of Blaine, Jean (ElRoy) Honl of North Oaks, and Elaine (Roger) Erickson of Lake Lillian. Ken is also survived by one sister-in-law Marilyn Dorschner of Kasson: and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Ken was preceded in death by his parents Lloyd and Edna Gode, his spouse Donna Gode, on July 12, 2015, his father and mother-in-law Joseph and Eleanor Fennell, brothers and sisters-in-laws Robert and Mary Fennell, Merle Fennell, Bonnie Fennell, Richard Dorschner, and Catherine Fennell in infancy, and nephews Brian Erickson, Michael Fennell, and Todd Sanderson. Blessed be his memory.