Kenneth's Obituary
Kenneth V. Gordon, 99, of Earl Park, Indiana, passed away on November 26, 2025, at Franciscan Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana.
Kenneth “Kenny” is preceded in death by his wife, Edith (3-29-2011) and his brother Gale (4-10-2022).
Born on August 19, 1926 in Darlington, Indiana, Kenny was the son of the late Leslie Gordon and Martha (Dickerson) Gordon. He graduated from York Township High School in Raub in 1944. On December 15, 1946, he married the love of his life, Edith (Bart) Gordon, at the Raub United Methodist Church—a marriage that blossomed into nearly 65 years of devotion and partnership.
A man whose life was anchored in faith, Kenny was a lifelong member of Raub United Methodist Church. He and Edith raised their children in a home centered on God, love, and service. Kenny was deeply active in the church, working alongside Edith with the MYF Youth Group and serving faithfully on the church board and numerous committees. His unwavering faith guided every aspect of his life and shaped his character—humble, kind, compassionate, and guided by a steady moral compass.
Farming was Kenny’s life’s work and his calling. He farmed in the Raub and Kentland areas, raising a variety of livestock and tending to crops of corn, soybeans, and wheat. For many years, he was a grower for Funk Seed Corn Company, proudly contributing to the development of new seed hybrids. His respect for the land, strong work ethic, and belief in innovation made him a respected figure in the agricultural community.
Kenny’s commitment to service extended beyond the farm. He served on the South Newton High School Board, the local Rural Electric Board, and the Indiana Statewide Rural Electrification Board, where he held the position of Chairman. His advocacy work took him to Washington, D.C. where he championed legislation supporting rural electrification and the needs of farming families.
Family was the heart of Kenny’s life. His children fondly remember growing up on the family farm—doing chores, feeding animals, driving tractors and grain trucks to the Raub elevator, and working beside their dad in the fields. Summers were filled with baseball, swimming lessons, trips to Turkey Run State Park, annual Canadian fishing trips, travels to Colorado to see their family, joyful gatherings with the McClains, Calverts, and their Gordon girl cousins. These memories reflect the warmth, fun, and togetherness that defined the Gordon household.
In his later years, Kenny was blessed with the devoted care of his daughter, Colleen, who lived near him in Chicago. After Edith’s passing, Colleen and her husband Steve visited frequently, spending holidays with him and offering companionship and support. Together, they brought light, love, and reassurance to Kenny’s final years.
Kenny is survived by his five children:
• Wayne Gordon (wife: Mari)
• David Gordon (wife: Connie)
• Gregory Gordon (wife: Sheilah)
• Scott Gordon (wife: Valerie)—all of Colorado; and
• Colleen Szymanski (husband: Steve) of Palatine, Illinois.
He is further survived by nine grandchildren—Tyler Gordon, Kaitlyn Mathena, Cooper Gordon, Chelsea Kieper, Trevor Gordon, Michael Weishaar, Joshua Gordon, Melissa Cisneros, and Ryley Murphy—and twelve great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Marty Gordon and nieces Connie, Sue, and Kathy.
To Kenny’s coffee crew at the Good Table, bless you all!! You have kindly filled his mornings with coffee and community.
Kenny was a man of steadfast values—honesty, respect, humility, hard work, and integrity. He led by example, inspiring these same principles in his children and grandchildren. Above all, he cherished and supported Edith with a deep and enduring love. Together, they created a family grounded in faith and strengthened by devotion.
Kenny will be remembered for his faith, his love of the land, his dedication to community, and the deep love he held for his family. His legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched and in the generations shaped by his example.
“And on the 8th day GOD looked down on his planned paradise & said - I NEED A CARETAKER! …So, GOD made a farmer.” – Paul Harvey.
Donations may be made in Kenny’s memory to the Raub United Methodist Church in Raub, Indiana. A celebration of life service is being planned for a future date with details to come.
