Kenneth Jay Yost, 81

 Kenneth Jay Yost, also known as “Ken” or “Big John,” 81, of Shell Rock, Iowa, passed away on Thursday afternoon, February 1, 2024 at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly, Iowa.

Ken was born on March 14, 1942, in Waverly, Iowa, the son of John J. and Arlene M. (Avery) Yost. He attended the Shell Rock Community School District and started working at a young age on the family farm and helping Ralph and John Yost with home construction in the Shell Rock area. He then started working as an auto mechanic for Friedley Olds in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and later at Coonradt Ford in Waverly, Iowa. He retired in 2007 after 50 years in the automotive repair field. On September 10, 1966, Ken was united in marriage to Dixie Kay Wieland at the Washington Chapel in Cedar Falls.

Ken was a very hard worker and extremely mechanically inclined. Ken was often seen repairing vehicles at home after work for friends and family. He enjoyed troubleshooting problems and could fix anything with an engine from the early 1900s to present day. He could diagnose problems with an engine by just listening to how it was running. Ken was also an avid outdoorsman and spent a lot of his years hunting. He was an excellent long-range shooter, and loved to hunt red foxes, deer, and pheasants. Ken also enjoyed fishing for large northern pike in local rivers, and musky in Wisconsin lakes. However, his greatest enjoyment was time spent with family, especially with his children and grandchildren.

Ken is survived by his wife of over fifty-seven years, Dixie; two children, Tracy (Sheila) Yost of Shell Rock and Teresa (Todd) Gilley of Waverly; four grandchildren, Jacob, Jared, Tyler and Courtney; one great-granddaughter, Natalie; a brother, Bob (Renee) Yost of Parkersburg; brother-in-law Ken (Sheryl) Wieland of Chino Valley, Arizona; sister-in-law Ginger Avery of Clarksville, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; Dixie’s parents, Bob and Geneva Wieland; two sisters and their spouses, Janet and Ray Rosol and JoAnn and Vern Rindels, and brother-in-law, Roger Avery.

Ken’s body has been cremated and there will be a Celebration of Life Gathering at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Ken’s family for later designation. Online condolences may be left at www.kaisercorson.com. Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly is assisting the family. 319-352-1187