Lynn G. Ford

Lynn G. Ford, 73, of Council Bluffs died Sunday April 22, 2018 at Creighton University - Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha due to complications of prostate cancer. He is survived by his wife Patti (Krolikowski) Ford, sons Brett Ford and wife Beth, Rod Ford and wife Sharla. Three granddaughters Emma and Bennett Schwaller, Anna Ford, and Tera and Gage Griffeth and great grandson Kace. Other survivors are his siblings Bob (Carol) Ford, Dick Ford, Donna (Dick) Schneider, Victoria Ford, Loa (Burdette) Christensen and Dan (Sue) Ford; sisters and brothers in law Sharon (Ron) Riskowski, Elaine (Mark) Janulewicz, Don Krolikowski, Dave (Amy) Krolikowski; and many nieces, nephews, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Lynn was born in Carroll Iowa on July 28, 1944 to Victor and Gertrude (Headlee) Ford of Coon Rapids, Iowa. He attended Carrollton School and graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1962. He later attended Iowa Western Community College and UNO. On February 13, 2018 he received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration, Magna Cum Laude from Waldorf College, fulfilling a promise he made to his father that he would get a college degree, because in his senior year of high school he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and left for boot camp in San Diego the summer after graduation. Lynn proudly served with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division in California, Okinawa, the Philippines, and then Viet Nam in 1964-1965.

In 1968 Lynn joined the Iowa Department of Public Safety and graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. He was assigned to Council Bluffs and for eight years worked as a Driver’s License Examiner, State Trooper, and Agent with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He was appointed Sheriff of Pottawattamie County in August of 1975, then elected twice before leaving in 1983 to work in the insurance industry. He sold personal lines insurance, commercial truck insurance, and started an insurance fraud department, before establishing his own private investigation company. In 2004 he went to work for a national insurance holding company where he managed the Special Investigations Unit, rising to Vice President of the Risk Mitigation Unit from which he retired in 2014. In his insurance career he received a Certified Insurance Counselor designation and the Certified Fraud Examiner designation from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Lynn was active at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Council Bluffs, serving in many ministries, was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and past Grand Knight of Council #1045. He currently served as President of the Council Bluffs Fish and Game Club. He was member of the National Sheriff’s Association, the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies Association, the Iowa Peace Officers Association, and a life member of the VFW, American Legion, and Viet Nam Veterans of America.

Anyone who knew him, knew that he loved the Marine Corps, law enforcement and football, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs. In the summer you would find him fishing the lakes of western Iowa and in recent years he travelled many times to Canada. Lynn was a friend and mentor to many during his law enforcement and insurance careers, and after retirement. His family and friends are deeply grieved by his passing.

Someone who had terminal cancer once said “don’t be sad for me, we all come to this world to be a tourist, enjoy life, do good deeds and I just so happen to leave earlier than others”.

Vigil service Friday 5:30PM with visitation to follow until 8PM at the Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home. Mass of the Christian Burial Saturday 10:30AM at the St. Peter Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Whiterock Conservancy, 1436 Highway 141, Coon Rapids, IA 50058, www.whiterockconservancy.org, the Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910, www.vva.org, or donor’s choice.