Kenneth R. Cable
December 5, 1939 ~ March 7, 2013
Today we are mourning the loss of Kenneth Richard Cable of Anamosa, formerly of Cedar Rapids. He passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2013, after a battle with lung cancer and COPD. He was 73. Funeral Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, by Chaplain Christine Wagner-Hecht. Friends may call from 4-8 pm. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial: St. Joseph Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Kenneth was born December 5, 1939, in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Richard and Carol (Salome) Cable. He moved to Cedar Rapids at the age of seven with his mother, stepfather, and sister, Barbara. Ken married Maurene Martin on October 7, 1961, in Galena, Illinois. They lived in Cedar Rapids for 47 years until they retired and moved to the Stone City area of Anamosa in 2008. After his first job as a paper carrier, he managed gas stations for Martin Oil Co. of Cedar Rapids, Burlington, and Dubuque, and Apco on 16th Avenue in Cedar Rapids. They were all 'full service stations'. Ken apprenticed and worked for Ilten's for 28 years, nearly 20 of those years as shop foreman. He took great pride in his work and was an avid union member. Ken was on the Executive Board of Sheet Metal Workers Local 263 for 18 years. He was elected business manager in 1991 and served for 15 year until he retired in 2006. Ken served on many boards and committees for the union, city of Cedar Rapids, and state of Iowa. After retirement, he liked day trips to wineries and antique shops with friends. Ken always traveled the side roads instead of the interstate. He also helped family members search in the cemeteries for ancestors in both the Cable and Martin families. His family includes his wife of 51 years, Maurene; three sons, Tim, Kevin, and Marty; two daughters, Rachelle (John) Mendoza, all of Cedar Rapids, and Cheryl of Chandler, Arizona; one granddaughter, Tara; five grandsons, Brad (Desiree), Drew, and Justin, all of Cedar Rapids, Brendon (Necia) of Ely, and Dan of Marion; and six great grandchildren, Makenzi, Madisyn, Makenzie, Bradley Jr., Bailey, and Kenick. Also four sisters, Linda Egbert of Wichita, Kansas, Sherry (Doug) Kandle of Boise, Idaho, Billie (Alan) Bernard of Grass Valley, California, and Tina Cable of Burlington, Iowa; four brothers, Rick (Katy) Cable of Long Beach, California, Gale (Mary) McCullough of Cedar Rapids, Lynn (Nancy) McCullough of Troy, Missouri, and Dennis (Penny) McCullough of Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Carol; stepfather, Gene McCullough; stepmother, Edith Cable; sisters, Carolyn Cable (infant) and Barbara Carothers; and brothers, Ronald Cable and Randy McCullough. The family extends a sincere thank you to Erin Swailes ARNP, Dr. Cam Campbell, the doctors, nurses and staff at the Ghosh Cancer Center, and all of the visiting nurses, social workers, and chaplains at Hospice of Mercy. Ken was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend; and 'brother' to many. We will all miss him very much. Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 4080 1st Avenue NE Suite 101, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402.
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Marie and family
We share in your sorrow for the loss of Kenny. May the many memories of your life togrther bring you comfort.
Dennis and Penny
Marie and family sorry for your loss our thoughts are with you. clay and deb foreman
We are so sorry to hear of Kennys passing you will all be in are prays
Marie and Family,
Knowing Kenny and the family since I was a small child I have grown very fond of the bond you all have together. Kenny was loved and respected by all and a teacher to many, especially me. My sincerest condolences to the entire family.
Will light a candle for Ken and one for the family at Mass tomorrow night. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
They say when you enter into heaven you have to pass thru the pearly gates. I can only guess ther is a special entrance for highly esteemed Sheet Metal Workers such as Ken. Polished Stainless with copper angels adorning. I’ll bet Ken will stop and check the welds.
Miss you Kenny
My sincerest condolences to the family. I remember Ken as a very kind and helpful man to Pat and especially to myself after Pat’s death. I will keep his family in my prayers duing this difficult time.
Our thoughts are with you at this time
My Thoughts and Prayers go out to all the family. I will be lighting a candle in his honor today. Heaven has another Angel.
On behalf of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Building Trades Council I offer our condolences to Ken’s family. We thank you Ken for your years of service to Building Trades and your contributions to help build the local construction industry.
I am so glad that I got to meet Ken and his family! We were all neighbors for many years and am happy that we are all still friends. Love and Prayers to all!!
Uncle Kenny will truely be missed. We missed out on many years, but the memories are and will be there always. I am so glad we re- united in 2010. I hope him and his brother Ron will meet eachother on the other side. I love you Kenny and tell my father hello for me.
Marie and family. I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to you. I did not know Kenny well, but I heard he was an awesome uncle to my mom and great brother to my grand father. I will share my mothers memories.
Kenny helped this town grow.
Marie and family
We will keep your family in our prayers and Kenny in our hearts. Jack has many fond memories of their 16 years on the SMWIA263 Executive Board together. And I always appreciated his respect for all members of the Sheet Metal Workers’ families. May Kenny RIP and smile down on the rest of us from heaven.
Our thoughts & prayers are with the family of Kenny. He touched the lives of so many people, he will be truly missed.
Keith & Kim Klein
Kenny helped people. His common sence approach showed us how to deal with and get along with each other. I hope you’re not too lonely in Sheet Metal Heaven. May God bless & keep you Kenny Cable.
Maurene and family,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of Ken. He was such a nice man. May your good memories sustain you during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I had the pleasure of knowing Ken and working with him a lot as he was Local 263 business manager.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, and he will be missed.
Marie and family,
Kenny was a super guy!!!! I have had a lot of good times/laughs with Kenny in my 18 plus years at Ilten’s 🙂 He is in a better place with no more suffering. Thoughts and prayers with you all.
Tim and family
We are so sorry to hear of your loss, please know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers
Just heard about Ken and wanted to say I am sorry to hear about his passing. Your family was a part of my life and I just wanted to let you know he was a wonderful man and will be remembered fondly.
Jodi
Camping and bowling with Kenny was always fun. Marie and the kids were great. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time, he will be greatly missed.
Keith Gusta
Kevin & Marty, Thinking of you and your family during the loss of your father. Prayers and thoughts go out to you all. Memories are a wonderful thing to remember
My heartfelt sincerest condolences to all of the Cable family
Kenny was a man with a heart of gold, lined with diamonds with his soft spoken words of kindness mixed in with playfulness sarcastic loving funny humor, his devotion to his family, friends and his Union. Kenny was a legend all of his own, that will truly be carried on in so many wonderful people, I believe this world was a better place because of Kenny.
I personally feel truly blessed to have known Kenneth R. Cable and to have been lucky enough to have worked side by side with this wonderful man for so many years
~ My heart hurts for the loss of my Mentor / Very Dear Friend ~
Thank you so much Maurene for sharing your wonderful husband with Sheet Metal Worker’s Local # 263 Kenny was truly an inspiration to all of us.
R.I.P. Kenny you will be truly missed by so many.
You have my condolences. I thank Kenny for helping my family when our furnace went out one nasty cold day. He saved us.
There are a lot of good memories we shared over the last 60 years. Brother Ken will be sorely missed by us all. Thanks for everything brother.
Uncle Ken played an integral part with me and my apprenticeship. He was and is a big part of who and where I am today as a sheet metal worker. I will surely miss him and his wit / wisdom…
Dear Marie and Cable family,
We are so sorry to hear of Kenny’s illness and passing. I remember him to be a kind and caring man. My parents (Ed & Jan) thought the same. Condolences from the Mezera family. God bless and take care.
Ed, Jan, Wanda & Audrey
Shelley and Family,
So sorry for your loss. Your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
just a note to my Dad
It’s all the littlest things, that I see the resemblance,
your lessons; the way the wind blows, why the birds chirp–
and how I know why, it’s because of you.
When the garden grows, how it calls to me, and I smell what I smelled
these memories live in those beds, the beds in my memories.
Memories that linger, like value, like worth, like a hard days’ work,
like not settling for less, but accepting yourself, and to be a man.
Everyday your tired eyes reminded me of your commitment to family,
your commitment to me,
your quiet, yet firm vow that is unyielding through tears,
with the capacity and magic to turn sadness and calamity into
humor and forgiveness.
It is an understatement to say you’re a wonderful and beautiful father inside and out,
but your title is much more majestic, now grand and great and that is what you are!
You beat through me, my veins and my heart, and I love it.
Because of you I am great and grand, and I take our memories with me, in my soul,
wherever I go.
With all my love 4 ever