Kenneth Dwaine Eklund, age 58, of Isanti died May 19, 2014 at home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 23rd at Calvary Lutheran Church, Rush Point, with Rev. Keith Kolzow officiating. A memorial visitation will be held on hour prior to the service at the church and also from 4:00 -7:00 P.M. Thursday, May 22nd at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel.
Kenneth Dwaine Eklund was born April 26, 1956 in Princeton, Minnesota to Dwaine and Shirley (Nelson) Eklund. Kenny was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church at Rush Point. He attended Moody Country School until the 6th grade and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1974. On June 4, 1977 Kenny married Mary Strombeck at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cambridge. They made their home by Lake Francis in Isanti for two years before moving to their current home just East of Isanti. Kenny worked for Eklund Ag with his dad and brother before becoming a diesel mechanic. He was a mechanic with Hennepin County for many years before opening his own shop “Woodland Truck and Equipment Repair” in Grandy.
Kenny loved racing enduro in his younger years; 4-wheeling in his later more wise years. He also loved cars and was the proud owner of a hot road Gremilin X that he loved to reminisce about. He grew to become a stickler for details, was meticulous, and was good at teaching his children how to do many things. Kenny loved trips up north to the family cabin, adventures boating on Lake Superior, and many weekend getaways with Mary. He lived life to the fullest even through his health issues which started at age 22 with kidney disease and ended with cancer. His sister Diana donated his first kidney, along with his second that help prolong his life.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary; son, Kevin (Elizabeth) Eklund of Isanti; two daughters, Katina Eklund of Minneapolis, Amanda Eklund of Monticello; parents, Dwaine and Shirley Eklund of Stanchfield; brother, Michael (Diane) Eklund of Isanti; sister, Diana (Barry) Engdahl of Rush City; two grandchildren, Ellie and Mason; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents.