Kenneth 'Bud' Ross Dodson

Kenneth "Bud" Ross Dodson LONE TREE, Iowa -- Kenneth "Bud" Ross Dodson, 83, of Lone Tree, died on August 3, 2012, as the result of an accident. Memorial Service will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at the Lone Tree American Legion. The Rev. Susan Barnes will officiate the services. Full military rites will be provided by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. Following the services, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Lone Tree American Legion. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 2012, at the Lone Tree American Legion. Memorials may be directed to the Lone Tree American Legion in memory of Kenneth. The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation services is caring for the family. Kenneth was born on February 23, 1929, in Lone Tree, the son of Eslie Dodson and Merle Draper Dodson. He graduated from Lone Tree High School and entered the U.S. Navy in 1948 serving on the USS Helena Light Cruiser in the Korean War through 1954. He was very proud of the service he and others gave to our country. Following his service, he returned to Lone Tree to farm and married Audrey Brenneman Dodson on January 15, 1955....[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

He was a jack of all trades, as most farmers are and was extremely artistic and was a talented craftsmen. Ken built their home as well as a Gold Wing Experimental aircraft, flying it on calm evenings over southeast Johnson County as well northeast Washington Country. Ken enjoyed watching the space flight coverage on the Space Channel, racing, Iowa Football and Basketball among other sports and greatly enjoyed watching his two grandchildren participate in many sports. He was a devoted member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457, instrumental in the All Veterans Memorial now standing in front of the Legion building, designing and raising funds for it and oversaw each detail of its construction. He and his wife, Audrey attended bi-annual USS Helena Crew reunions throughout the country, gaining many close friendships and were looking forward to next year's reunion at Helena, Montana and had just made arrangements to be on the next Honor Flight with his daughter to Washington D.C. as a Korean War Veteran. He was also a member of the Lone Tree United Presbyterian Church and used many of his talents to maintain the church property. A lover of dogs, he had many devoted pets through the years, and you often saw them in the passenger seat of his car or golf cart buzzing around the farm. As a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and substitute-grandfather to many of the great nieces and nephews in the family, Ken was a great example of a hardworking man who served and loved his country, respected and farmed the land, and was a great conversationalist who cared deeply about people. Ken is survived by his wife, Audrey Brenneman Dodson, with whom he would have celebrated 58 years of marriage; his daughter, Cheri Dodson Colbert; his son, Keith Dodson and daughter-in-law Lois; two grandchildren, Andrew and Elizabeth, all of Lone Tree, a brother, Cleo Dodson and wife, Shirley, of Lone Tree; two nephews, Steve and Kevin, of San Jose, California, and his son, Jeremy; a niece, Laurie Dodson Lilleg and husband, Mike, their daughter, Jasmine, of Iowa City; a sister-in-law, Debbie Brenneman Magruder and husband, Doug, and their children Renee, Ryan, and Robyn; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Brenneman and wife, Eunice, and their children, Mindy, Mike and Andrea; a brother-in-law, Vernon Brenneman and wife, Deb, his children Christy, Cathy, Colene and Carmen; a brother-in-law, Raymond Brenneman and wife, Andrea, and their children, Karleen and Phil; a brother-in-law, Ron Brenneman and wife, Jane, and their two sons, Clint and Jered, all of Lone Tree; many great nieces and nephews; and two cousins David Bell and wife, Clarice and Pete Bell and wife, Carol, of Washington.