Kenneth Wayne Lambert, 76, of Austin, Minnesota, died Feb. 14, 2016, at his home.

Kenneth Wayne Lambert was born Aug. 12, 1939, in a farm house south of Charles City, Iowa, in Floyd County, the son of Hiram and Bernice (Church) Lambert. He spent his early childhood in the Charles City, Nashua, and Chickasaw areas of Iowa, attending various schools as he was able. At the age of 14, he transferred to the Woodward School in Independence, Iowa, before returning to his mother’s home in Austin at the age of 21. After her death in January 1975, Kenneth lived with his brother Melvin and his family for a short time before preparing to live more independently in an assisted living home. This gave him the opportunity in 1976 to move to Austin, Minnesota, where he lived with Dick and Vicky Johnson, as well as other clients and staff in Austin. Kenneth worked at the Cedar Valley Rehabilitation Center. He loved his work at Cedar Valley, and his friends and staff there were very special to him. Kenneth retired from the CVRC in 2006 and then moved to the Breckenridge homes under the care of Sharon DeClue and her staff. In April 2013, he moved to Adams Heath Care Center in Adams, Minnesota, until Aug. 13, 2014, when he moved back to the Cottonwood Home in Austin, under the care of the REM associates and staff. Kenneth was an outgoing person who loved to walk, talk and be around people. He enjoyed life and loved taking vacations, especially to Iowa to spend time with family there. He liked bowling, working puzzles, watching movies and television with friends, spending time with his cat Rascal, and listening to music, especially polka tapes.

Kenneth will be sadly missed by his brother Melvin (Beverly) Lambert of Rockford, Iowa; 19 nieces and nephews; countless grandnieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Hiram and Bernice Lambert; his sisters: Josephine (Don) Hunt, Beatrice (Ray) Towarnicki, Florence (Oliver) Ort, Thelma Lambert, Rachel (Duane) Amsden; his brothers: Alvin (Darlene) Lambert, John (Irene) Lambert, an infant sibling at birth; his nephew John Lambert Jr. and his niece Linda (Lambert) Virchow.

Kenneth’s family acknowledges your kind expression of sympathy at this time of loss.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel in Austin with the Rev. Dale Christiansen officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Charles City, Iowa. Memorials can be directed to The Cottonwood Home at 2311 9th Avenue SW in Austin, Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice Program, or recipient of donor’s choice. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.