Olin "Shorty" Kimball

E. Olin “Shorty” Kimball, 100, entered into the kingdom of heaven on February 22, 2023, surrounded by the love of his family. Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Corning, Iowa with Rev. Mary O’Riley officiating. The service will be livestreamed with access via a link on the Pearson website on Shorty’s page. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Corning, Iowa. Open Visitation will be 3:00- 7:00 P.M., with family receiving friends 5:00 – 7:00 P.M, Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be determined. Memories and condolences may be shared on-line at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Olin was born on January 20, 1923, to Wilbert Carl and Ida Mae (Dant) Kimball. He grew up in Lenox and went to school through the 8th grade and then left to help his family (although he told his grandchildren he only went to school one day to substitute for his sick brother). Olin served in the US Army from 1946-1947, worked for REC as an electric lineman for 37.5 years and farmed and raised cattle in Quincy area for 47 years.

A blind date in 1940 led to Olin meeting his forever love, Vera Yearington. Olin and Vera were united in marriage on September 10, 1943, in Creston, Iowa. They farmed in Lenox until April 1946 when Olin entered the armed forces. Olin served in Japan as an ambulance driver. After Olin returned from the service in September 1947, Olin and Vera briefly lived on a farm near Reinbeck before returning to Corning. Vera and Olin eventually moved to land they purchased in 1950 in what was once the town of Quincy. They lived there until 1994 when they moved into the town of Corning. In July 1962, Olin and Vera adopted a brother and sister, Daniel and Dorothy. Although Vera passed away in March 2017, Olin remained head over heels in love with her and continued telling stories and letting others know how much he missed her.

To know Shorty was to love Shorty. Shorty loved people and was the happiest when he was surrounded by others. He loved to make people laugh and joke around - if you look up “ornery” in the dictionary you will likely find his picture. Other than being husband to Vera, his favorite title was Grandpa and he always said how much he loved “the little ones”. He was so proud of his grandchildren and attended many games, plays, graduations, weddings and parties. He never missed a chance to let his grandkids help him on the farm or later at the house, have them sit on his lap, sneak them extra sugar or pretend to steal their food with his wandering fork at dinner - although sometimes he did steal the meat so they didn’t get in trouble for not eating it. Olin also served Corning Christian Church as a deacon for many years and was chairman of the board when the new church was built in the 1950s.

Left to cherish Olin’s memory and carry on his legacy are daughter, Dorothy Sobotka (Kent Sturtz); nine grandchildren, Melissa (Rick) Schad, Amy Kimball, Jennifer (Kevin) Maseman, Jolene (Jay) Johnson, Kelli Kraus, Julie (Michael) Showers, Jodi Sobotka, Jamie Sobotka and Charity (Ryan) Carstensen; 31 great grandchildren; 12 (soon 13) great-great grandchildren; a sister, Bea Walton; sister-in-law, Shirley Kimball; daughter-in-law, Shirley (Kevin) Gute; and many nieces, nephews and friends. In death, Olin was reunited with his wife of 73 years, Vera; his son, Daniel; son-in-law, Robert Sobotka; grandson, Chad Veach; 3 great grandchildren, Bailey Graham, Brianna Hilton and Simon Carstensen; 4 brothers, 4 sisters and his parents.

Although words will never do, the family wishes to express the utmost gratitude to Corning Specialty Care. Thank you for being his family and taking such great care of him. He loved you all dearly.