Ernest "Ernie" Eugene Kephart (2025)

DAVIES, DOLTON, DRURY, HARRISS, HULBERT, KEPHART, MATHESIUS, MCDONALD, NORRIS

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 1/27/2025 at 17:00:33

Kale Funeral Home
Osceola, Iowa

March 12, 1941 - January 25, 2025

Ernest "Ernie" Eugene Kephart, a cherished son of Iowa, passed away on January 25, 2025, at the age of 83. Born on March 12, 1941, near Peru, Iowa, Ernie was the second son of eight children to Anderson and Mary (Hulbert) Kephart.

Ernie attended Madison #8 school near Earlham, Iowa, and graduated from Earlham High School with the Class of 1959. Following his graduation, he joined the Navy in California, where he served his country and toured the world for four years.

After his naval service, Ernie began working for the telephone company in Illinois for several years. It was during this time that he met Joan Drury and, on December 28, 1976, married the love of his life. Together, they shared 43 wonderful years of marriage.

Ernie's career took him to Saudi Arabia, where he worked for Aramco Oil for over 30 years until his retirement in the early 2000s. Despite the distance, Ernie and his wife built a home in New Virginia, Iowa, in 1976. They resided there one month each year while working abroad, and it became Ernie's full-time residence upon retirement. In October 2023, Ernie moved to Homestead Assisted Living in Osceola, where he spent his final days.

He enjoyed bowling and spending time with family and driving his Corvettes with the Warren County Corvette Club.

Ernie is survived by his step-daughters, Brenda (Michael) Harriss of Dekalb, IL, Glenda (John) Davies of Sycamore, IL, and Amy (Martin) Norris of Truro, IA; his siblings, Jerry (Sharon) Kephart of Burleson, TX, Dale (Connie) Kephart of St. Charles, IA, Dorris (Jeff) Dolton, and Dorothy (Bill) McDonald, both of Winterset, IA and sister-in-law, Debra Kephart; eight step-grandchildren: Devon, Paige, Sarah, Jamie, Courtney, Nicole, Zach, and Delayne; and one great-grandchild, along with twenty step-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anderson and Mary Kephart, wife, Joan, his brothers, Wayne Kephart, Harold Kephart, Everett Kephart, and step-grandson, Jacob Harriss, as well as step-great-grandson, Dylan Mathesius.

Services will be held at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 10:00 am, with Mike Taylor officiating. The family will greet friends at a visitation from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at Kale Funeral Home. Interment with military rites will follow in the New Virginia Cemetery.

A live stream of the service will be available at kalefuneralhome.com on Ernie's tribute wall beginning at 10:00 am on Thursday. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Pink Tractor Foundation. Online condolences may be directed to the family at kalefuneralhome.com.

Ernie will be remembered fondly by all who knew him, and his memory will be cherished forever.