Kenneth D. Wagenius, 86

He didn’t tell us how to live, we watched him do it.

Ken passed away peacefully on June 16, 2012, surrounded by his loving family. Ken was known for his integrity, great sense of humor and his love for his family; of all things in his life, Ken loved his family the most.

Ken was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Wolf Point, Mont. He was the oldest of seven children born to Herman and Ruby (Young) Wagenius. Ken was called to service in 1944 and served in the Army’s 748th Field Artillery Battalion during World War II. Ken was very proud to have served his country in combat action in England, Germany and France. After returning home, Ken married his dear wife, Marilyn Miley on May 7, 1948.

Always a faithful, devoted, hard worker, Ken owned and operated Kenco Steel Buildings in Rathdrum during the ’70s and ’80s, constructing arch form buildings and gothic style homes. He began working at a very young age and held jobs as a sheep herder, milking cows on his parents dairy, a logger, planer operator, saw filer, as well as a tie bucker and fireman on the Northern Pacific. In his free time, he was a wonderful vegetable gardener and loved to hunt, fish and camp, anything in the outdoors.

Ken is survived by Marilyn Miley-Wagenius, his wife of 64 years; his four children, Diane (Darrell) Gunning, Larry (Margie) Wagenius, Karen (Mitch) Smith and Ellen Sauer; sister Doreen (Bud) Cain; sister-in-law Loreen Ellersick; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 23, 2012, at English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Pastor Ken Bartle will be officiating. Burial ceremony will be at Riverview Cemetery. There will be a gathering following for all friends and family at a location to be announced. Please visit Ken’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.