LINAFELTER, Kenneth

Kenneth L. Linafelter, 85, of Lincoln, NE, formerly of Allen, went home to be with his Lord Sunday, August 16, 2015. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Allen United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Carol Jean Stapleton and Lori Kintner officiating. Burial will be in Eastview Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. today at Cottner Center in Lincoln. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux city. Ken was born on June 22, 1930, in Waterbury, NE, the son of Delbert and Ardith (Thompson) Linafelter. He was married to Doris (Isom) on June 11, 1950, at Allen United Methodist Church. Ken spent 30-plus years operating the Tri-County Insurance Agency in Allen. Ken also had a familiar presence at auctions throughout northeast Nebraska, operating his antique shop, Ken's Kollections in Allen and later selling at the Aardvark in Lincoln. He was active in community activities, serving on countless boards and committees through the years. He was a volunteer fireman and served a term as mayor of Allen. After moving to Lincoln in 2005, Ken worked at Memorial Stadium during home football games and ushering at basketball games at Devaney sports Center. The highlight of his career at UNL was the past two years when he was assigned to guard the locker room doors and be one of the two men who held the doors open when the team came out of the locker room and into the tunnel. As a father and grandfather, he could be found at ball games, concerts, or at any type of event where his kids or grandkids had a part. For more than 25 years, Ken and Doris made trips each January to Quartzsite, AZ, to sell Nebraska Primitives gleaned from local auctions and garage sales. In later years, Ken sold items on eBay and shipped all over the world. He was a member of Allen United Methodist Church for more than 70 years and later at Christ United Methodist Church in Lincoln. In 2014, he received his 60-year membership pen from the Masonic Lodge and Lincoln Sesostris Shrine Temple. Ken is survived by his children, Bruce and Bonnie Linafelter of Cincinnati, OH, Brian and Kim Linafelter of Sioux City, Denice and Clayton Schroeder of Lincoln, and Robb and Mary Linafelter of Lincoln; grandchildren, Karisa Linafelter of Cedarville, OH, Erica and Jason Heddings of Thornton, CO, Erin and Ryan Johnson of Sioux City, Dr. Ross and Meghan Heaton of New Orleans, LA, Brandon and Amanda Schroeder of Hastings, NE, Tyler and Shani Schroeder of Lincoln, Andrew Linafelter and fiancé, Lainie Jessen of Lawrence, KS, Emily Linafelter of Lincoln, and Turner Linafelter of Lincoln; eight great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Wendell Roth of Sioux City; and a special friend, Patsy McCormick of Lincoln; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Doris in 2009.