Kenneth L. Doyle - Flandreau

July 8, 1924 – Dec. 8, 2017

Posted

Kenneth L. Doyle, 93, of Flandreau, died Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, at Avera Flandreau Hospital. 

Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 5 – 7 p.m. Monday at Skroch Funeral Chapel in Flandreau, with a 7 p.m. scripture service.

Kenneth Leo Doyle was born July 8, 1924, in Moody County to Joseph Henry and Katherine Louise (Haase) Doyle. He attended the Bell country school and graduated from Egan High School in 1943. As a child he helped on the family farm by driving the team of horses for fieldwork. Kenneth was a proud veteran of World War II. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy on Feb. 23, 1944. 

When sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge he promised himself that if he came back from the war he would not leave Moody County. Kenneth served in Guam, Ulithi, Carolina Islands and Okinawa. 

He was a mechanic on Corsair fighter planes. Kenneth was discharged on April 27, 1946, and happily returned to Moody County. On Jan. 3, 1949, he married Clara Wendehl in Flandreau. They farmed in Clare Township until 1996 when they moved into Flandreau. Their son, James Michael was born July 16, 1951. Kenneth was a lifetime member of Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church. 

He served on the Cenex board of directors; he was a Moody County commissioner, and was a member of the American Legion Post 70, and VFW. 

For many years he served on the Honor Guard, carrying the American flag, and participated in 21-gun salutes at many funerals. 

As the veterans aged, Kenneth was concerned that no one would be left to serve on his Honor Guard. On April 16, 2005, the love of his life, wife Clara died. 

Clara had begun teaching Kenneth to cook and he became quite good at it. His homemade chicken soup was awesome and he made delicious pies. 

Kenneth was always a farm boy at heart. He enjoyed his old tractors, but also helped Dale and Carol Tjarks with fieldwork even at 80-plus years of age. One of Kenneth’s traditions at Christmastime was making rosettes. He would usually make 10 dozen (or more) and then deliver them to friends, family, and businesses around town. Every year he would say, “This is the LAST year,” but the following year he would show up with rosettes for everyone. 

He is survived by son, Jim (Brenda) Doyle of Flandreau; two grandsons; four great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Lorraine (Harry) Reaves of Flandreau and Madonna (Ed) Rieder of Sioux Falls, as well as many other family members. 

Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Clara; a sister, Rose Holvig; and four brothers, Donald, Ervin, Harold and Lawrence Doyle.

For online condolences, visit www.skrochfc.com.