Kenneth Dean Moburg

Kenneth Dean Moburg, age 79, of Decorah, Iowa died Monday evening, January 17, 2005 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah of complications of Parkinson's Disease. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 21, 2005 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah by Rev. Steven M. Jacobsen. Private Family Graveside services will be held in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Fjelstul Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Kenneth Dean Moburg was born August 20, 1925 in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of Eddie and Julia (Palmer) Moburg. After graduating from Geneseo High School in 1943, he served with the Air Force in World War II before receiving his formal education at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Here he graduated with a degree in Business Economics in 1949. He earned his Master’s degree in Health Administration at Northwestern University in Chicago before serving as hospital administrator in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—first at Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital in Manistique, and later at Francis A. Bell Memorial Hospital in Ishpeming. In 1956 he became the President of Lutheran Hospital in Moline, Illinois, overseeing its growth and expansion until his retirement in 1990. During his administration he initiated the merger between Lutheran Hospital and Moline Public Hospital, and subsequently Franciscan Hospital to form the present Trinity Health Systems. Kenneth was united in marriage with Dorothy Jackson on June 10, 1950 in Ascension Chapel at Augustana College, in Rock Island, Illinois. The couple has four children: Steven, Donna, Peter, and Lucia. With a personal commitment to serving others, Kenneth was active in local, state, and national organizations in the hospital field. In addition he was dedicated to serving local service organizations as well as the community and the church. His faith moved him to inspire others through his quiet leadership. For many years he was an active member on the boards of Augustana College and Blackhawk College, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for 8 years. Two educational scholarships honor him: the Kenneth Moburg Scholarship, established in 1986 by Trinity Health Systems; and the Kenneth D. Moburg Graduate Study Award, established in 1990 by the Lutheran Hospital Association of America. In 1993 Kenneth and Dorothy moved to Appleton, Wisconsin where they lived for ten years before moving to Decorah, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dorothy of Decorah, IA; four children, Steven (Janell) Moburg, of Paynesville, MN; Donna Moburg (Lee) Johnson, of St. Paul, MN; Peter Moburg, Waukegan, IL; Lucia Moburg, of Appleton, WI; five grandchildren, Benjamin Moburg, Alicia Moburg, Timothy Moburg, Jennifer Moburg, and Kristina Moburg, and one brother, Everett (Wanda) Moburg of Long Lake, MN.