Kenton Paul Zelle

Kenton Paul Zelle, 65, of Hudson, IA, died on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, IA.

Born March 15, 1958, in Decorah, IA, Kenton was the son of Rev. Edgar Zelle, long-time pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Verona Zelle, long-time nurse at Allen Hospital. Growing up in east Waterloo, Kenton attended Krieg Elementary, Logan Jr. High, and East High where he excelled in sports and academics and sang in the East High male quartet. He lifeguarded at Gates Pool and delivered papers at Allen Hospital. He graduated from East in 1976 and married his high school sweetheart, Cynthia Abbott on August 25, 1979. In 1980 he graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, completed an Engineering Masters at University of Missouri at Columbia, and earned an MBA at the University of Iowa.

Over their nearly 45 years together, Kenton and Cynthia made their home in Kansas City, MO, Marion, IA and Hudson, IA. They raised two daughters, adored two grandsons, and enjoyed the company of numerous pets. Kenton served on various church boards and on the Hudson Utility Board. Along the way Kenton lent his engineering and managerial expertise to Allied Signal, Automation Systems and Control, and John Deere Waterloo. His work at Deere as Manager of Global Factory Automation enabled him to travel internationally and advance global manufacturing. Kenton enjoyed tinkering with new technology, woodworking, gardening, camping, kite flying and being with friends and family. Second only to loving his wife and family, Kenton had a thirst for knowledge and used all that was new to contribute to the well-being of all life.

Kenton is survived by his beloved wife Cynthia, daughter Rachel Digmann, and grandson, Tyler of Waverly; daughter Alayna Zelle and grandson Clark of Cedar Falls, mother Verona Zelle of Waverly; siblings Jennifer Wipperman of Waverly, Nathan (Mae Jean) of Mt. Horeb, WI, and Nadine Zelle (Jon Schmidt) of Chicago, IL, seven nieces and nephews, and five grandnieces and grandnephews.

Kenton was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Edgar Zelle.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Locke at Tower Park, Kimball Ave., Waterloo. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, at 1:00 PM at Locke at Tower Park. A private family burial will take place at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo. Memorials may be directed to the family. For further assistance, you may call the funeral home at (319) 233-3146.

The family knows that all who knew, loved, and respected Kenton share their lament that he is gone much too soon.