Kenneth Allwardt

Kenneth Allwardt - Age 90, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, after a long battle with dementia and other chronic medical conditions, complicated by a short battle with COVID-19. Ken was born April 15, 1930, to the late Ernest and Myrtle (Miller) Allwardt. He married Wilma Wiegand Nov. 11, 1950. Ken was employed at International Paper, formerly Thilmany Pulp and Paper, for 35 years until his retirement on Feb. 1, 1989. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Kaukauna. Ken was very good at designing and building things. He built the house and garage on Grant Street in Kaukauna where he and Wilma raised their family, the camper trailer which the family used for many years and the family cabin located 10 miles west of Mountain. For many years after early retirement, Ken enjoyed driving up to the family cabin where he collected lots of wood, cut it up and created wood piles. He then used the wood for campfires, cooking, and heating the cabin. Ken also made sure that his two youngest daughters had plenty of outdoor fun at the cabin with minibike riding, snowmobiling, small game hunting, fishing, wild blackberry picking, and rafting down the wolf river. When Ken’s health started failing, he moved to an assisted living facility in Appleton and eventually into a nursing home. He was one tough dude having survived multiple major surgeries, and just bounced right back — like a cat with 9 lives. Ken is survived by his wife: Wilma; children: Christine (Pat) Stache, Gary (Pam) Allwardt, Mark (Connie) Allwardt, Julene (Jeff) Gerrits and Sandra (Jeff) Weiland; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren (with one on the way); two nephews; numerous other dear family and friends. In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his son: Richard Allwardt; grandchild: Ted Jeffrey Gerrits; siblings: Edith (Milton) Froh and Elroy Allwardt; daughter-in-law: Debbie (Gary) Allwardt. A funeral was held Nov. 10 by Rev. Rod Krueger of Bethany Lutheran Church, Kaukauna.  His family asks that you make a donation to a local food pantry or warming shelter in memory of Ken. To leave a special memory or condolences with Ken’s family, please visit wichmannfuneralhomes.com.