KENNETH ALBIN

Kenneth Fred (Kenny) Albin, 89,  died in his home six miles south of Dawson, Nebraska at 2:15 in the afternoon of Friday, June 17. His wife Velma and children Kay, Kim, Joni and Jay; as well as niece Elaine Riley, Linda Albin, and Ivan Godsey were by his side. He was still active and working up until just a few days before he passed away. He had taken a trip over the hill in his golf cart with his son just a few days earlier to look for a D8 dozer part for a customer. Kenny was always up for any adventure. At a moments notice he would have jumped into a barrel and headed over the falls.
Kenny had been battling cancer for a number of years never giving in or losing his fun loving spirit or love of life. He graduated from Honey Creek High School a semester early so that he could join the Navy Air Core. He was in the class of 1945. After the service he returned to Richardson County where he drove a rock truck before starting his own business digging basements with his loader. He enlarged the business to KIMNO construction then later began specializing in buying and selling heavy equipment.
 One of Ken’s great joys in life was handing out his business cards for Ken Albin Heavy Equipment. Each card had a funny riddle or joke on it.  Kenny would laugh every time he tricked someone as if it were the first time despite the fact that he handed out thousands of cards a year. Pick a number 1, 2, 3, 4.  
Ken and Velma Strahm met at Sycamore Springs on the skating rink where Kenny stood out not only as a top notch skater, but also as one of the best looking young men on the floor. Velma “picked him out” and they were married on May 18, 1952 on Velma’s parent’s farm southwest of Sabetha.
Ken was always working on a project many of which would be put aside when another idea hit him. One project which did come to fruition was the Richardson County Speedway. The entire Albin family got involved with this one. Velma ran the concession stand while their three little blond girls sold popcorn at the dirt race track Kenny had built on his land. That same land was also a landing strip for Kenny’s Cessna which he used to travel to sales all over the Midwest.  
Not many people get to buy the high school where they graduated, but Kenny did just that when he bought Honey Creek in the mid 1970’s. His daughter Joni and her new husband Bob’s wedding dance was held in the old Honey Creek School Gymnasium. Later Ken turned the school into one of his many shops. All four of the Albin children attended Honey Creek and Ken’s wife Velma was one of the school’s last teachers before it was closed.
Ken was a jack of all trades especially when it came to running or fixing heavy equipment. Whenever there was a break in the work he liked to load up his grandkids into a loader bucket and give them all a thrill. His first of 10 grandchildren Miklannet Tennal-Patrick wrote the following after learning that her grandfather had passed.
“One of the greatest men in the world passed away today and I was lucky enough to call him, Grandpa. Whenever you left after a visit, you always left feeling special. I love you, Grandpa! You are one of the best things to ever happen to me. I will see you in the funny papers.
Ken is survived by his wife Velma and three sisters Phyllis Taylor and Ola Riley of Humboldt and Peggy Hanschen of Gordonville MO. He is also survived by his four children, Kay Clark (Ivan) of Meriden, KS; Kim (Kimbrook) Tennal of Centralia, Ks; Joni (Bob) Bruhn of Beatrice; and Jay (Linda) Albin of Dawson.  He had 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Ken continued his giving tradition after life by donating himself to science. The family requests no flowers and memorial contributions will be given to the Falls City Community Medical Center Hope Program to help those in medical need.
Kenny’s Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday June 25, from noon to 6:00 p.m. at Sycamore Springs in the big Barn. Red socks will be required and Ken Albin Heavy Equipment cards will be handed out.
The amount of living Ken managed to cram into one lifetime is astonishing.  From all of us who loved you Kenny Albin, “See you in the funny papers!”