Ernest Kitchen

BRIGHTON ? Ernest Lyle Kitchen, 65, of rural Brighton, died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, at his home.

He was accorded cremation rites, and no services are planned at this time. Gould Funeral Home in Brighton is assisting the family.

Mr. Kitchen was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the son of Ernest Lowell and Helen Marie (Vowels) Kitchen. He married Barbara Brooks on Feb. 27, 2006.

He graduated from DeWitt Community High School and attended two years of college at Black Hawk Community College. He owned Endless Nights Ltd. and was a self-employed general contractor for many years. He was a decorated Army veteran of the Vietnam War, where he received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, among other awards. He was also a martial arts instructor for police departments in the Davenport and Moline, Illinois, area. Music became a large part of his life, and he enjoyed playing piano and guitar while singing.

Surviving are his wife, Barbara; two sons, Ernie Kitchen and wife Dana of Davenport, and Tom Kitchen of Osage Beach, Missouri; five grandchildren; his father, Ernest Lowell and wife Sue of Galesburg, Illinois; one sister, Theresa Reeves and husband Wayne of Tyler, Texas; and two brothers, Mike Kitchen and wife Trudy of Low Moor, and Bo Clark and wife Tammy of Burlington.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen; two brothers, Davey Clark, and John Kitchen; and two sisters, Hazel Short, and Wanda Clark.