Kenneth John Walbrun

Kenneth Walbrun, age 75, of Menasha, passed away on January 31, 2021. Ken was born on October 16, 1945 to Sylvester and Lydia (Kunke) Walbrun. After he finished school, he started his career at King Plumbing in Appleton, and finished his career at August Winter Mechanical Contractors, retiring after 45 years. He was a proud member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 400 and taught Medical Gas Installation at the Union Hall for several years.

Ken and Mary loved to travel. Especially to Hawaii. Other favorite destinations included Michigan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas and Alaska. They were able to visit 44 of our 50 states. Everywhere they went, Ken and Mary made life-long friends. Ken also loved fishing and hunting. He enjoyed sharing his love of fishing with his brothers, his son-in-law Mark, his grandsons Kyle and Eli and his great-grandsons as well. Ken and Mary liked going to concerts and over the years they personally met The Letterman, Tom Jones, Lionel Richie and The Commodores. He was a giving man who liked to share the fish he caught, and the caramels he made with his “Candy Girls”, Mary, Julie and Nancy.

He was an avid bowler who played in league for over 55 years. His teams included his 7 brothers and many friends over the years. He also loved to play Cribbage and Sheepshead. He liked to take care of his yard, and his flower gardens. He loved planting perennials and buying yard statues for Mary so they could decorate their home. He was also an amateur bird watcher and photographer. He was an avid Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers fan and he loved everything golf. He used to record his grandchildren’s sporting events so he would never have to worry about missing a beat. Win, lose, or draw, he was always proud grandpa.

Ken will be sadly missed by his wife of 34 years, Mary (West) Walbrun of Menasha. Children; Gwen (Mark) Sachs, of Appleton, Wade (Ellen) Walbrun, Pawtuckett, Rhode Island, step-children; Julie (Richard) Cornette, of Appleton and Tim (Tammy) Fink, of Appleton, grandchildren; Alyssa Sachs, Michael Sachs, Kyle (Amber) Knapp, Kyle (Heather) Kuhn, Tara (Taylor) Fink, and Eli Cornette, great-grandchildren; Bryson and Bennett Knapp, brothers and sisters; Larry Walbrun, Harvey (Sue) Walbrun, Paul (Carol) Walbrun, Carol (Doug) Cottrell, Fran (Jim) Larson, sisters-in-law; Arlene Walbrun, Dell Walbrun, Ethel Walbrun, MaryAnne Walbrun, Judy Walbrun and Jannette Mignon, brother-in-law William (Terri) West and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Ken will also be greatly missed by his fur babies, his cat Muffin and his dog Bella.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Lydia Walbrun, brothers; James, Richard, Roman, George and Roger Walbrun, infant sister Annette Walbrun, brothers-in-law John West and Jack Mignon, and mother-in-law Helen Lenz.

Due to current circumstances, a private memorial service will be held. The service will be livestreamed on Friday February 12, 2021 at 12:00pm. You can view the livestream by going to Ken’s obituary page at www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com and clicking on the large blue icon that will appear shortly before the service. There will be a public Celebration of Life at a later date.

The family would like to say thank you to Ken’s many caregivers at Rennes Health and Rehab Center, ThedaCare at Home Hospice, Prairie Home Assisted Living, Deacon Rick Simon, Fr. Kyle Sladek, Rev. Steve Dietzler, and all our wonderful neighbors, especially Kris and Dave Mader, Nadine Sanders, Garth Zimmerman, Mark Damie and Nancy Handevidt for everything they did for Ken and Mary.