Kenneth Atherton Sloan was born February 22, 1924 in Blanchard, Iowa to Oral "Shoney" Sloan and Lula Atherton Sloan. He passed away late Friday afternoon March 7, 2008 at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital following a brief illness.

Kenneth attended country elementary school at Chicken Bristle School located south of Blanchard. He graduated with the class of 1942 from Blanchard High School. Kenneth farmed and raised livestock in the Blanchard area and northwest Missouri after high school.

On April 18, 1955, he was united in marriage to Phyllis Harlan at the United Methodist Church in Westboro, Missouri. He and Phyllis continued to farm in the Blanchard area until he retired in the late 1980's. Phyllis continued to work in Shenandoah until the spring of 2004. Kenneth and Phyllis enjoyed living in Blanchard. After Phyllis' death, Kenneth moved to Gardenview Care Center in October 2006 where many new friendships began.

As any farmer Kenneth watched the seasons change from planting to harvest and never ceased to be amazed at all the new technology after he became a spectator to the business. He and Phyllis loved animals and no dog was ever turned away from their door. Needless to say they had many "favorite" pets over the years. Casey, a long hair Chihuahua was Kenneth's constant companion after Phyllis' death. True to his Irish roots, Kenneth loved to talk and especially to share recollections about the early years of growing up in Blanchard.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Phyllis of 49 years. He is survived by his brother Keith and his wife Helen of Blanchard, nieces Kathy Sloan Balster and husband Kennon of Blanchard, Kelly Sloan Lundgren and husband Gerard of Omaha, Nebraska, and 2 great nieces, Jessica Sloan Lundgren, and Jordan Paige Lundgren and fianc John Harvey all of Omaha.

Memorial Services were held from the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah, Iowa on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. Scripture reading was by Kelly Sloan Lundgren. Special songs selected for the service were "Everyone Loves Somebody Some Time" and "You Raise Me Up." The Eulogy was given by Kathy Sloan Balster. Inurnment was in Blanchard Cemetery in Blanchard, Iowa. Memorials in Kenneth's name are being directed to the Humane Society.