Kenneth Dean Haden

Kenneth Dean Haden, age 74, of Tifton, GA, passed away on June 12, 2026, at Tifton Regional Medical Center, due to health complications.

Ken was born on June 8, 1952, to parents Dean and Alma (Nelson) Haden of Lytton, IA. As a small child Ken enjoyed “cowboy music,” being outside, helping his dad with farm chores and any kind of tool. As a youth he enjoyed Boy Scouts and Little League and was a confirmed member of the Lytton Presbyterian Church. In high school he played football, pursued an interest in photography and was a member of the National Honor Society. Ken actively participated in FFA, showing the family’s purebred Hampshire hogs at the Iowa State Fair and other regional shows, winning multiple ribbons and awards. He graduated from Lytton Community School in 1970 and attended Iowa State University, majoring in Agronomy.

While attending ISU, he befriended many international students who were studying far from their native homes. He would bring them to the family farm at Lytton so they could experience an Iowa farm, and they were welcomed and included at many Haden family activities.

After completing his years at ISU, he engaged in agriculture, raising crops, hogs and sheep. In 1984, he moved to Logan, UT, and attended Utah State University, working in their Reproductive Physiology Lab. In 1985, he moved back to Ames, and during the next four years worked at ISU as a Field Laboratory Technician in the Department of Economics Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

In 1994, he moved to Georgia, seeking a warmer climate. He worked at various jobs in the Smyrna and Marietta areas. In 1995 he made his first trip to Eldoret in Kenya, Africa, reacquainting with former students he had met at ISU, and he found the climate very beneficial to his health. Over the next 25 years, he usually spent 6 months each year in Kenya, working with the acreage-scale farmers in the Eldoret area to amend and improve their soil and increase production.

During this time he became aware of the educational needs of the children and young adults in the rural area, where parents were not able to pay the expense of school attendance. He contributed funds to some families so their children could attend school and graduate.

In 2000, he moved to Tifton, GA, and found employment at Brother Charlie’s Rescue Mission. With the support of Brother Charlie’s and Tifton residents, Ken continued his trips to Eldoret to provide help to the community.

In 2010, he connected with Chesitek School, a rural school in Iten, Kenya, 18 miles from Eldoret. During the next 7 years he assisted the school by seeking financial contributions, providing basic facility improvements, purchasing school equipment and supplies and by also implementing technology. Because of Ken’s support and dedication, Chesitek was the 1st primary school in the county to embrace digital learning.

The school property included 1.6 tillable acres. Implementing his agronomy skills he amended the soil enabling the school to grow alfalfa, maize and dry beans, not only providing the children with school meals but generating cash crop revenues for the school’s operating expenses.

Ken’s final trip to Kenya was in 2020, but he continued to provide financial assistance to some students for educational needs and the internet enabled him to provide farming research and instruction.

Co-workers, saddened by his passing, shared that Ken was a good friend and one of the most hardworking, honest, straight-laced and generous people they knew.

Ken is survived by two of his children: Heidi Haden and Luke Haden, both of AZ and his daughter-in-law Kibinesh Fulas of FL; two grand-daughters: Rekik Haden (daughter of Peter Haden and Kibinesh Fulas) and Sofie Ahmed (daughter of Heidi). He is also survived by four siblings: Susan (Ron) Haffner of Solon; Janet (Fred) Smith of Silverton, OR; David (Patty) Haden of Primghar and Deann Haden of Fort Dodge.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and his son Peter Haden.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.