Kenneth L. Bartlett, 78 of Marion, died Friday April 9, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha after a courageous battle with Parkinson's disease. He went to be with his mother, father, two brothers, a son and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Services were 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery where there were also military rites. Friends called at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday.

Born May 18, 1931, he was the son of Clark Bartlett and Marie Hanson. He was the eldest of four boys in the family. Brother to Gordon, Roger and Lawrence. He is survived by his wife, Betty and five children.

Ken graduated from Marion High School in 1949. He joined the Army in 1951, serving his country in the Korean War until being honorably discharged at the end of his duty in 1953. Ken was finally acknowledged with a service medal from the Korean government for his service there.

Kenneth met and married Betty Lou Deaton while stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., and returned to his childhood town of Marion after serving his country. Together they had six children: Donald of Anamosa, a baby boy who was stillborn, Karen of Maryland, David of Marion, Teresa of Cedar Rapids and Keith of Marion. He was the proud grandfather of Raana, Gina, Amy, Ronnie and Courtney, and a great-grandfather of five. He was also uncle and cousin to many and had many dear friends.

He worked two jobs, Rockwell-Collins for 35 year until retiring in 1988 as well as driving school bus for Linn-Mar Community Schools for 32 years until he retired in 2002.

He enjoyed "pulling a trailer" or driving an RV with his wife and family on many trips and going to Oshkosh for the worldwide fly-in in pursuit of one of his passions, airplanes. He also enjoyed working on cars, "tinkering." He could always "design/make something for that" or fix anything. He is greatly loved and will be sorely missed.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy for their extraordinary care and to direct all memorial contributions there in lieu of flowers.

Please leave a message or tribute to the Bartlett family on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.