Henry Kay

Henry S. Kay, 102, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday, October 15, 2018, at Atlantic Specialty Care.

Henry Sanny Kay, was born June 19, 1916, at home, the second son to Harry and Hattie (Sanny) Kay. He started school at the age of four attending the Grove City School and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1933 and began farming with his dad.

Working with his family started at a young age and continued for years. He helped deliver eggs, butter and cream to customers in Atlantic with his mom. He delivered wagon loads of cobs to various Atlantic homes and brought home loads of coal; both jobs required scooping. He helped an electrician wire the house at the age of thirteen and he and his brother Gerald had a silo building business.

On March 8, 1940, Henry was united in marriage to Zoe E. Boseck at the First United Presbyterian Church in Atlantic. After Zoe and Henry were married, they started farming with a team of horses and a 1940 Oliver 70 tractor. They found great joy in sharing their lives in sponsoring young people from around the world. Through a Farm Bureau program to help educate young men on Iowa farm life, they hosted men from France, Brazil and Japan. Through another program connected to their church, Lester Chitsulo from Malawi, Africa, spent three years attending Atlantic High School and living with them. Henry also enjoyed teaching Sunday School, being an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and a 4-H leader, fishing, golfing, attending Elderhostels, traveling and being a devoted member of the Lions Club.

Survivors include his two sons, Kenneth (Jerilyn) Kay of Atlantic and Richard (Kathy) Kay of Urbandale; a daughter-in-law, Jan Kay of Loveland, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Christa (Dennis) Clarke; Jeff (Christina) Kay; John (Angela) Kay; Lisa (Chad) Williams; Paul (Paulette) Kay; Sarah (Mike) Gimbel; Philip (Heather) Kay; Kristel (Bret) Fulcher; Ryan (Amy) Kay; sixteen great-grandchildren, Marilynn, Dylan, Daniel, Anna, Ellie, Owen, Elizabeth, Andrew, Jack, Will, Emily, Carson, Cale, Isabel, Addison and Nolan; four step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Muriel Kay of Atlantic and Yvonne Krehbiel of Hutchinson, Kansas; a good friend, Erma Lange of Atlantic; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Lester Chitsulo of Malawi, Africa.

Henry is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Zoe in 2005; his son, Dennis Kay; three brothers, Eldon Kay, Gerald Kay, Bob Kay; sisters-in-law, Betty Sue Kay, Mayme Kay, Alice Kay; nephews, Alan Kay, Larry Kay; nieces, Marcella Jensen and Judy Kay.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 20, 2018, at the First United Presbyterian Church in Atlantic, Iowa. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Family will visit with friends at a lunch in the church fellowship hall following the funeral service.