Kenneth Verdon Unger

Kenneth V. Unger

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Kenneth V. Unger, who lived in Columbia, Mo., passed away Tuesday (Nov. 13, 2007) in Mableton, Ga., surrounded by his three loving children. He was 79 years old.

He was the first child of Daniel G. Unger and Adina Voth Unger, born in 1928, in Goessel. Both parents are deceased.

Ken graduated from Newton High School in 1946 and immediately entered Navy V5 College Program to become a Navy pilot. When World War II was over, he resigned in 1947.

Ken married Norma J. Klassen in Hillsboro in 1947. To this union, three children were born. All survive their father's passing. They are daughters, Teresa Ann Derr and husband, Larry, of St. Mary's, Ga., Sharon Kay Huckelberry and husband, Bert, of Lexington, Ky.; and son, Kenneth Bradley and partner, Mike Twomey, of Atlanta, Ga.

Ken married Lucile G. Larson in 1985. Sadly, she passed away in 2005. Ken is survived by three step children, Susan Fouse and husband, Ron, of Memphis, Tenn.; Charles Larson of Roscoe, Ill.; and Debra Johnson and husband, Terry, of Columbia.

Ken had a blended family of 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He also is survived by three brothers, Clifford V. Unger and wife Joan of Porter, Texas; Daniel V. Unger and wife, Darlene, of Jacksonville, Fla.; Emerson V. Unger and wife, Karen, of Friendswood, Texas; and a sister, Joetta Flohrschutz and husband, Keith, of Pueblo West, Colo.

Ken was employed for more than 40 years by J.I. Case Company, a manufacturer of industrial and farm equipment, retiring in 1991. He was their first company-owned retail dealership manager and won many awards. He had an instrument rated commercial pilot's license.

He was transferred to Columbia from Memphis, Tenn., in 1983. He was a member of Columbia Northwest Rotary Club and the Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia.

After retirement, he volunteered many years in the surgery units of Boone Hospital Center and Columbia Regional Hospital. He also volunteered for Meals on Wheels. He was president of Country Club Villas I Homeowners Association for 17 years.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia.

Funeral service will be at at 11 a.m. Saturday at Missouri United Methodist Church in Columbia with Rev. Jim Bryan officiating.

Burial will be next to his wife, Lucile, in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Vista Care Hospice, 6458 Spring Street, Suite 100, Douglasville, GA 30134.

Tributes can be left online at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com.