Karl K Kiilsholm

A memorial service for Karl Kiilsholm, age 94, of Spirit Lake, will be held Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 10:30 AM at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at the Wesley Evergreen Cemetery in Wesley, Iowa. Following the burial, there will be a Celebration of Life gathering at the Trinity Lutheran Church Life Center in Algona at 3:00pm. Karl Kiilsholm was born in Wesley, Iowa on October 13, 1924. He was the firstborn of Viggo and Kamilla Kiilsholm of Denmark. Kamilla passed away in November, 1930, and in 1932, Viggo took Karl and his brother, Viggo, Jr. back to Denmark, where he married Anna Bjerre. Karl lived in Denmark from 1932 to 1950. During those growing up years, Karl experienced five years of Nazi occupation, served in the Danish army, and attended college. In 1950, he married Fidelia Evelyn Skow of Wesley, Iowa and moved back to America. Karl and Fidelia lived in the Wesley area and Karl farmed with her family. In 1960, they purchased their own farm near Algona and lived there for 37 years, during which time they adopted three children: Bonita, Edward, and Timothy. Karl was active in many community organizations. He was part of the Iowa State University Extension of Kossuth County and served on the State Extension Advisory Council for three years. He was a member of the Kossuth County Farm Bureau and held offices locally as well as served on the State Advisory Board of the Iowa Farm Bureau. In 1966, he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives and served in the 67th General Assembly. Shortly thereafter, Karl started traveling throughout the U.S. giving inspirational talks on the importance of faith in God and in country. Over the next 25 years, he spoke in 33 states. Karl loved America and the freedom it provides. His years of living in a Nazi-occupied Denmark made him especially thankful for this country, and prompted him to encourage others to value what can so easily be taken for granted, our freedoms. Karl was also active in his church. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Algona, and later a member of the Fort Dodge First Presbyterian Church. He was an elder and also served as moderator of the North Central Presbytery. Kiwanis Club events were always a favorite activity for Karl. He enjoyed many years of friendships in the Algona, Eldora, and more recently, the Spirit Lake Kiwanis Clubs. In January 2002, Fidelia passed away; later that year Karl married June Goldman of Okoboji. Karl is survived by his wife, June Goldman and her family, as well as by his two sons, Edward and Timothy, and their families. Karl passed away December 23, 2018 at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake at ninety-four years of age.