Kenneth E. Carson, 87, of Toledo, peacefully passed away Monday, March 21, 2016 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown after a courageous struggle with cancer. Funeral Services will be held Friday, March 25, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the First Presbyterian Church in Toledo with Rev. Doug Darnold officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2016 from 4-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

Kenneth was born on February 11, 1929, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Robert Wallace and Grace (Abrams) Carson, who farmed in Olds and State Center, Iowa. In 1940, they bought and operated a farm north of Toledo.
Ken graduated from the Toledo High School in 1947. He worked two years before attending Iowa State College, graduating in 1953.
On August 29, 1953, he was united in marriage to Nancy Ayers in Palatine, IL. Ken served as a Battalion Motor Officer in the Army for two years. Following his service, Ken and Nancy moved to Toledo, Iowa, where he began working for Farm Bureau as an Insurance Agent. He and Marvin Helgren soon started an independent insurance agency know as Twin Cities Insurance. In 1962, they added the real estate business to their agencies. In 1963, Marvin sold his half of the business to Ken and a few years later Paul Hunter joined the firm and became his partner for twenty years.
Ken became interested in collecting classic cars and car memorabilia. He became active in the Marshalltown Area Restorer's Club, the Hawkeye Packard Club and Shrine Vintage Auto Unit. Along with that interest he sold collector car insurance and did car appraisals.
Ken has been a member of the Toledo Presbyterian Church since 1940. He was also active in the local Lions Club for sixty years. Ken received the Warren Coleman Award in 2013 in recognition of his years of service to the Lions Club and the Tama-Toledo Community.
Ken enjoyed fishing and one week every June for fifty-nine years he would head to Ontario, Canada with friends to Ross' Resort. Through the years he influenced many friends and family members to travel to that same resort and enjoy the beauty of fishing.
Survivors include his wife of sixty two years, Nancy Carson of Toledo; one son, Wally (Sharyl) Carson of Orono, MN; three daughters, Cindy (Dave) Lux of Cedar Falls, Sue Carson of Toledo and Sharry (Ben) Pino of Merced, CA; one brother, Bob (Marilyn) Carson of Ripon, CA; eleven grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters-in-law, Beverly Carson and Heidi Carson.
Memorials may be directed to the Presbyterian Church of Toledo, Iowa River Hospice in Marshalltown or Wieting Theater in Toledo.