Kane grew his business from his origins as a salesman and a small customer base. He died April 11 at the age of 79.

April 14, 2017

2 Min Read
Founder of Kane Manufacturing passes away

Mike Kane, founder of Kane Manufacturing, passed away on April 11 at the age of 79. Born and raised on a farm in South Dakota, Kane was a dynamic entrepreneur who grew his business from his origins as a salesman with a small customer base in the South Dakota and Iowa livestock industry. He founded Kane Manufacturing in 1969, and grew it into a leading national manufacturer of equipment for customers in North America and around the world.

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Donna Kane and Mike Kane receiving the Iowa Exporter of the Year award for 1991 from Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

In 2016, Kane Manufacturing was acquired by an affiliated company of Lee Container (a leading manufacturer of plastic containers headquartered in Homerville, Ga). After the acquisition, Lee’s president Robert Varnedoe became president of Kane Manufacturing and Mike Kane stayed with the company as a consultant. The company continues to operate under the name Kane Manufacturing and serves its customers from its headquarters in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, with Kane’s experienced staff.

“We here at Kane Manufacturing are all moved by Mike’s passing.” says Varnedoe. “Mike Kane was larger than life, and that showed in his passion for his customers, his business and making farming easier, more efficient, and more humane.”

Kane Manufacturing primarily serves customers in the pork industry. Kane’s product line includes a variety of heat mats for pigs, pets and reptiles; a full line of pig equipment from farrow to finish; all sizes of animal feeders and watering equipment, and animal sorting products. Kane Manufacturing serves customers in North America and markets around the world.

Lee Container manufactures high-density polyethylene plastic containers for crop protection, lubricants, pet care, beverages, and industrial and household chemicals. The company began operation in 1989 and is headquartered in Homerville, Ga. Lee also manufactures and distributes containers from facilities in Nacogdoches, Texas, and Centerville, Iowa.

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