How the Gown Was Found

University of Iowa Children's Hospital has been serving the health needs of young Iowans since 1919. One small remnant of this amazing history—a little blue and white striped infant gown, recently came to the Medical Museum at UI Hospitals and Clinics. Roberta Henke Lampkin of Washington, Iowa, a sister of Kenneth Henke Jr.—the man who wore the gown nearly 80 years ago as an infant patient at University of Iowa Children's Hospital donated the gown.

This is Roberta’s account of her brother’s remarkable life and the story behind that gown.

Kenneth C. Henke and his twin, Edith Laurel, were born January 20, 1925, to Bessie and Kenneth C. Henke, Sr. of Keokuk, Iowa.The first my parents knew they were going to have twins was when Ken was born and five minutes later Edith arrived.

In 1929, my parents got the Great Depression and me, Roberta Jean. I also had two older sisters, Margaret and Ruth. Money was scarce and the young family struggled to make ends meet.

But this story is about Ken, Jr. When Ken was born, my parents said his knees were some 18 inches apart.

Mother used to tell me that the University of Iowa Hospital car came and took Ken to Iowa City where Dr. (Arthur) Steindler corrected the deformities of Ken’s legs and put them in casts. At this time he was about a year and a half old. From then on his legs were perfectly straight.  Due to the number of children in the family and lack of finances, no one went with him to Iowa City. Unbelievable today, isn’t it?

I’m not sure how long he was there, but Mother said “the day before Christmas the University of Iowa Hospital car pulled up in front of the house and brought Ken home.”

I remember seeing the UI vehicles quite often picking up patients and delivering them back home. They had a driver and, in some cases, a nurse or adult with the driver. I assume there was someone in the vehicle that would look after Ken. After all, he was still a baby.

During high school Ken was a pole vaulter (quite an accomplishment for someone who had both legs broken when he was just a baby).

When he turned 18, Ken enlisted in the Navy. In 1944 a Japanese Kamikaze plane flew into his ship (the destroyer, USS Abner Read) and it was sunk. There were many casualties and several (Ken included) jumped into the ocean and were there for some hours until they were picked up by another ship. Our family heard of the sinking of the ship on the radio, but didn’t know whether Ken was alive or dead. We didn’t hear from him until two or three weeks later when he called from San Francisco to let us know he was alive and had just gotten into port.

When in high school he had dated a girl named Jean Pfrimmer. They broke up before he went into the Navy.

When Ken came home on leave, they started dating again and after he returned to his next ship he asked my parents to buy an engagement ring for Jean and give it to her, which they did! They were married when the war was over and he got out of service.

Jean was the “love of his life” and passed away a few years ago. They have a son, Terry, who lives in Keokuk.

In the fall of 1948, Dad bought his first hardware store back in Keokuk. Ken and Jean later moved from Centerville and Ken went into (the hardware) business with my dad and brother-in-law.

In the fall of 1965, Ken was elected Mayor of Keokuk (he served two terms). Before he took office the folowing January there was a disaster. On Thanksgiving Eve, thre was a gas explosion at the Armory where a square dance was being held. A total of 21 people died—seven instantly (including our sister, Ruth, and her husband, Louis Besser).

After his discharge from the Navy, Ken joined the Army Reserve and became an Army officer. He retired with the rank of colonel.

During his term in office, he was asked by Governor (Robert) Ray to come to Des Moines for an appointment—which he did, so he and Jean moved to Des Moines. Eventually they moved back to Keokuk and as Dad was aging and our brother-in-law had passed away, Ken bought the business.

Years went by and Ken stepped aside from the store and let his son, Terry, run it. The store was sold this past December, the merchandise was auctioned off, and Henke Hardware is no more.

Ken now has Alzheimer’s disease and is a resident at care center.

How the Gown Was Found

While going through everything in the store getting it ready for the sale, Terry found an old suitcase. I went through it and came across this little blue and white striped gown with “CH. Hosp.” printed on the back. I realized that this is the gown Ken had on when he come home after his surgery at Children's Hosptial some 80 years ago. Due to the casts on his legs he could not have worn clothes—thus the gown.

It is torn in the front, but I would imagine he wore it a lot because he probably didn’t have many clothes that he could wear.

—Roberta J. Henke Lampkin

May 2006

For more information:

University of Iowa Children's Hospital

Medical Museum at UI Hospitals and Clinics