Kenneth J. Schau, age 73 , of Sioux Rapids, Iowa died on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will be in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

Kenneth John Schau, the son of Herbert and Hilda (Reimers) Schau was born in rural Ricketts, Iowa, on August 6, 1943. 

Ken was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig, Iowa. He was later confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Charter Oak, Iowa.

He lived his youth in the Charter Oak community and graduated from the Charter Oak High School with the Class of 1961.  Following his high school graduation, he attended a technical college in Omaha, Nebraska.  Ken honorably served his country United States Army from 1964 until his honorable discharge from the Army National Guard on 1969.

Ken was united in marriage to Connie Korner in Schleswig, Iowa, and to this union two children were born: Robie and Heidi.  The couple later divorced.  On November 5, 1994, Ken was united in marriage to Andrea Eaton at the Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids and they were blessed with 22 years together. 

Early in his career, Ken started a grocery store in Charter Oak, Iowa.  In 1977, he moved to Sioux Rapids where he owned and operated a grocery store and also was a rural mail carrier of 26 years.  In addition to the grocery store, Ken had also owned the bowling alley in Sioux Rapids. 

Ken was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Rapids from 1977 until the church was closed.  Since that time he and Andrea had attended Christ the King Lutheran Church in Spencer, Iowa.  He was also a member of the Sioux Rapids American Legion.  Favorite pastimes of Ken’s included bowling, golfing, gambling, frequenting various casinos, and traveling.  Ken was very gifted in the construction of homes, remodeling, and will also be remembered as a very capable “fix-it” man.

Ken’s life will always be loved and cherished by his family which include his wife, Andrea, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; children: Robie (Rita) Schau; and Heidi (Brad) Hermstad all of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; step-son, Kirt (Jeri) Williams of Lindale, Texas; grandchildren: Dallas and Colton Schau; Grayson and Kayley Hermstad; step grandson, Kurtis Langstradt, four brothers: Merlin (Jennifer) Schau of Carroll, Iowa; Dwayne (Linda) Schau of Aurora, Illinois;  Ronald Schau and Gary (Linda) Schau all of Charter Oak, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother: Dennis.

“Ken will always be remembered as our Favorite Wingnut.”

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