Ardell L. Kaska

Ardell L. Kaska, 93, died at his rural Fairfield home on Friday, Oct. 28, 2016.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 3100 W. Madison, in Fairfield, with Rev. Nick Adam officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, in Fairfield, with military honors. Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Raymond Funeral Home, in Fairfield, followed by visitation from 5 to 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Honor Flight Program and to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. Funeral arrangements are in the care of the Raymond Funeral Home, in Fairfield.

Kaska was born on July 7, 1923, the son of Frank and Helen Zaharris Kaska, in Richland. He served in the United States Army as Private First Class, during World War II, from June 8, 1943 until Feb. 19, 1946. During the war, he was in the military police unit and often drove military officers throughout Europe including London and Paris. After his honorable discharge from the military, he married Lyola Mary Peiffer on April 20, 1949, in Clear Creek.

He was a lifelong farmer, starting in Washington County, before moving to rural Fairfield in 1957.

He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Kaska is survived by his wife, Lyola; his 10 children, Robert (Christine) Kaska, of Fairfield; William Kaska, of Decorah; Donald (Jackie) Kaska, of Fairfield; Mary (Michael) Skaggs, of Robins; Charles (Cathy) Kaska, of Fairfield; Carol Stonebraker, of Hollywood, Fla.; Joan (Frederick) Ruess, of Golden, Colo.; Susan (Dale) Rumer, of Walford; Darlene (Chip Schultz) Kaska, of Kansas City, Mo.; and James (Laura) Kaska, of Fairfield; 20 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren; brothers Walt Kaska, of Morrison, Colo.; Ron Kaska, of Mt. Pleasant; and Ern Kaska, of Brighton, Colo.; and sisters Kay Swain, of Sarasota, Colo.; and Connie Staebell, of Denver, Colo.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen Kaska; and his siblings, Marian Pohlit; Marcella Greiner; Clarabelle Durian; Cletus Kaska; Merlin Kaska; Lawrence Kaska; and Galen Kaska.