Kenneth Wayne Tejo

Cedar Rapids

Kenneth Wayne Tehau, 90, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Hiawatha Nursing Center in Hiawatha, Iowa. The Celebration of Life will take place from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, March 14 at Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion, Iowa. An inarmation with military honors will take place later at the Springdale Friends Cemetery, Cedar County, Iowa.

Kenneth (Ken) was born May 30, 1932, near Tipton, Iowa, to Elmer and Helen (Gerber) Techau. He grew up in Tipton and joined the US Navy in 1951, serving on the USS Renshaw in Japan, Korea, Midway and Hawaii during the Korean conflict with an honorable discharge in 1955. On March 10, 1956, he married Beverly Maxson in Springdale. , Iowa, and in this marriage a son, Kevin, and a daughter, Lisa, were born. In 1961, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Upper Iowa.

Ken spent 26 years with the Department of Social Security, working in Des Moines, Mason City, Omaha, and Dubuque, and then in Cedar Rapids, where he worked as an assistant district and regional office manager for 17 years until he retired in 1987 . He is widowed. in 1978 when Bev died and he married Jacqueline Hegwood in 1988. Ken and Jackie lived in Reno, Nevada and Gilbert, Arizona. Jackie died in 2001 and Ken returned to live in Marion.

Ken was an active supporter of the community and took an active part in community affairs. He served two terms on the Marion Board of Independent Schools and one term on the Marion City Council. He was very active in the Lions as a longtime member of the Marion Noon Lions Club as well as the Lions Clubs in Reno and Gilbert. Ken received the Warren Coleman Honorary Award and was a Melvin Jones Fellow. He belonged to American Legion Post 298, Marion, Iowa. Locally, he has long volunteered at the Historic Village of Ashers Ferry, St. Luke’s Hospital, and Habit for Humanity, and has also volunteered at food banks in Reno and Gilbert.

Ken was an amazing role model for his children and grandchildren, a good person with a big heart. He found great joy in spending time with his family. He taught his children the value of education, how to balance career and family life, the importance of serving others, the need to have fun and laugh, and the joys of travel.

Ken had a passion for sports, attending as many of his grandchildren’s sporting events as he could, and rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his family, friends, and everyone he touched.

Ken survived and is fondly remembered by his son Kevin (Stephanie) Techau of Cedar Rapids; daughter Lisa (Patrick) Welsh of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren Maxson and Grace Techau, Jenna (Cody) Jandik and Sean Welsh; great-grandchildren Griffin and Brekkan Jandik; sister Linda Rasavong of Cedar Falls; brother-in-law Ed Kasher of Waterloo; daughter-in-law Pat Small from California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Helen; brother Jack Techau; sisters Nancy Tehau and Donna Kasher; and wives Beverly Techau and Jackie Techau

Ken memorials can be donated to the Iowa Lions Eye Bank Fund.

Please share your memories of Ken at www.murdochfuneralhome.com in the obituary section.

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