Kenneth, "Ken" Edward Zubrod, 76, gained his wings from his battle with ALS on June 20th, 2022. ALS took his body's capabilities, but it couldn't take his spirit, love for others, and his amazing sense of humor.

Ken was born on August 2nd, 1945, to Louis and Louise (Bellinghausen) Zubrod. He spent his childhood on a farm in Manning, Iowa, and graduated from Manning High School in 1963. He loved sharing stories of his high school shenanigans with friends and growing up on the farm. After high school, he moved to Omaha, Nebraska, attending the University of Nebraska.

He married Diane Loeffelholz from Halbur, Iowa, in 1966 and moved to Manning and worked for his brother, Don, in the TV and radio repair business.

In 1968, they moved to Sioux City, Iowa, and Ken continued his education and work in the electronics business.

In 1971, Matt Zubrod was born. His dad was his best friend from an early age sharing many sports activities. There were the annual birthday baseball games in the backyard for Matt and his friends. There were early mornings on the ice at hockey practice or travelling out of town for the games with Matt's buddies. Then, in time, they were on the golf course together. In 1981, Meggan Zubrod was born and enjoyed every moment with her dad and family learning how to swim before she could walk, boating on the river in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. All were Ken's favorite things.

Ken began his long career with Federated Insurance and realized great success and continued in the insurance business after moving to Arizona in 1986. He became an insurance business owner, along with his family, in Scottsdale, Arizona, achieving many awards of excellence.

Ken met Donna Vonderloh in 1988, in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they married on March 14th, 1992. Ken continued in the insurance industry until retirement and because retirement was not a word known in his vocabulary, he and Donna went to New Orleans to help the Hurricane Katrina victims along with Matt and their son-in-law, Tom. The living conditions were simply awful and what they saw was tragic, but they continued to stop their lives as they knew it and helped people in need. The final portion of their 2 years in the area was at the infamous Lower Ninth Ward. After this, Ken and Donna worked for 11 plus years in the hotel industry traveling together, to include traveling to every state in the U.S., living in Hawaii for a year, then traveling to Belgium and England.

Ken was a giving man, who laughed hard, loved much, lived with his heart on his sleeve, and loved working with his hands. He loved, loved, loved his family, being a member of the Shrine (oh the stories there…), loved ice cream with potato chips, playing tennis, riding horses, golfing, and having family grilling parties with Ken burgers. His generosity and laugh were contagious, so much so, he had lasting friendships, and never met a stranger. Ken will be missed more than words can express and holds a place in his family and friends' hearts that will bring years of smiles and laughter.

Donna was honored to have been Ken's caretaker, with the help of his children, through his journey with ALS.

Ken is survived by his wife, Donna Zubrod, Son Matt (Christine) Zubrod, and Daughter Meggan (Tom) Lombardo, step-children Kari (Rich) Vonderloh-Havrilla, Kristi (Kevin) Vonderloh, and grandchildren he loved to the Moon and back, Ty (Joe) and Nicole Zubrod, Hailee and Peyton Lombardo, Hunter Havrilla, and Toby and Tyler Lester, his sister Carol Rupiper, brother Don Zubrod, and many nephews and nieces.

Ken is also survived by Diane (Arthur) Zubrod, mother of Matt Zubrod and Meggan Lombardo.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, mother, sisters, Thelma (Jerry) Fox, Doris Feldman, and brother Merlyn (Pat) Zubrod.

A celebration of life will be held August 2nd, (Ken's Birthday), in Scottsdale, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Arizona ALS Association.

A special heartfelt thank you to the Arizona ALS Association and Hospice of the Valley for their compassion and care for Ken during his ALS journey.