Ardell Kaska

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

A funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 3100 W. Madison in Fairfield, with the Rev. Nick Adam officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield with military honors. Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m., Tuesday 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. The Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Kaska was born July 7, 1923, in Richland, the son of Frank and Helen (Zaharris) Kaska. He married Lyola Mary Peiffer on April 20, 1949, in Clear Creek, after his honorable discharge from the military.

He grew up in East Pleasant Plain. He served in the 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. Together with his wife and children, he lived out his passion of being a lifelong farmer. He started farming in Washington County before moving to rural Fairfield in 1957. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, American Legion, VFW, Farm Bureau, Cattlemen?s Association, and Iowa Pork Producers.

Surviving are his wife, Lyola; 10 children, Robert Kaska and wife Christine of Fairfield, William Kaska of Decorah, Donald Kaska and wife Jackie of Fairfield, Mary Skaggs and husband Michael of Robins, Charles Kaska and wife Cathy of Fairfield, Carol Stonebraker of Hollywood, Florida, Joan Ruess and husband Frederick of Golden, Colorado, Susan Rumer and husband Dale of Walford, Darlene Kaska and Chip Schultz of Kansas City, Missouri, and James Kaska and wife Laura of Fairfield; 20 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Walt Kaska of Morrison, Colorado, Ron Kaska of Mount Pleasant, and Ern Kaska of Brighton, Colorado; and two sisters, Kay Swain of Sarasota, Colorado, and Connie Staebell of Denver, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and seven brothers and sisters, Marian Pohlit, Marcella Greiner, Clarabelle Durian, Cletus Kaska, Merlin Kaska, Lawrence Kaska, and Galen Kaska.