Kenneth Balvance

Kenneth E. Balvance, 89, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City. Funeral services for Kenneth were held on Monday, May 5 at the First Reformed Church. Interment was at Olena Mound Cemetery with the Buffalo Center American Legion performing military honors.

Kenneth Eugene Balvance was born on August 8, 1935 on a farm in Grant Township, Iowa to parents Ruben and Florence (Goetz) Balvance. They lived in several homes in Kossuth County before moving to the present home place northeast of Buffalo Center in 1941. The family joined the First Reformed Church, where Kenny has been a member ever since. He went to Lincoln County Schoolhouse #5 and later attended Buffalo Center High School. After school he worked on the family farm, worked for neighbors, DeVries Sale Barn and also did some carpentry work.

On May 3, 1958, he married Marilyn Thompson at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore, Minn. Twenty days later, Kenny left for Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri after joining the National Guard. He was honorably discharged six months later and would sign up to be in the Army Reserves for another six years following that, ending on April 1, 1964. He returned to farming in the Buffalo Center area, and he and Marilyn would start their family, having two children, Julie and Dean.

Kenny farmed his entire life. He custom fed cattle for many years. Kenny was active, serving on the church board, the elevator board, and the county fair board, as well as was active in the Buffalo Center American Legion. When he wasn’t working or volunteering, you could find Kenny riding around town on one of his many motorized toys. His favorite memory was giving driving lessons in the blue “Woody” minivan to all of his grandchildren! He also enjoyed going on motorcycle trips and many tractor rides in the area.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Marilyn Balvance, of Buffalo Center; children, Julie (Martin) Sankey of Ames and Dean (Nancy Hassebroek) Balvance of Buffalo Center; grandchildren: Mitchell (Meredith) Sankey, Kayla Sankey, Michael Sankey, Thomas Balvance, Dylan Balvance and Alex (Sydney) Balvance; great-granchildren: Audrey, Gabriel, Gaelen, Emmet, Aidan and Mia; siblings: Beverly Finer and Kermith (Cindy) Balvance; brothers and sisters-in-law: Darlene (Richard) Block, Janet (Maynard) Spitzack and Sue Thompson; as well as several loving nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by both parents; and brothers–in-law, Keith Finer and Royce Thompson.

Memorials may be directed to the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center or the Buffalo Center American Legion.