Kenneth T. Hennessey

Ken Hennessey, age 78, died Saturday, February 11, 1006 at the Appleton Medical Center following a brief illness. Ken was born in Madison on May 23, 1927, son of the late Louis and Kathryn (Van Vreede) Hennessey. He grew up in Wrightstown and was a graduate of the Wrightstown High School where he was an excellent basketball player. On April 18, 1950, he married the former Delores Verhagen at Holy Name Catholic Church in Kimberly; she survives. For thirty-nine years Ken was employed at the Appleton Papers Locks Mill, and retired in 1989 as a shift supervisor. During many of those same years, he operated his own business, Hennessey Sales and Service in Kimberly. He was well known for being the man around town who could repair the things that no one else could fix. He also enjoyed old cars, attending car shows, taking Delores for daily drives, and restoring and maintaining his Kaiser Frazier automobiles. Ken was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved to be with his family and enjoyed photographing all of the little ones.

Ken is survived by his loving wife, Delores Hennessey of Kimberly; nine children: Sharon (Randy) Gascoigne of Madison, Judy (John) Schmalz of Little Chute, Mary (Jeff) Vanden Boogaard of Darboy, Bob Hennessey of Appleton, Janet (Guy) Van Dyn Hoven of Kaukauna, Kathy (Tom) Van Toll of Kimberly, Don Hennessey of Sherwood and his fiancé Stacey Koehler, Mark (Lisa) Hennessey of Little Chute, and Vicki Hennessey of Kimberly; fourteen grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren: a brother: Clayton Hennessey of Green Bay; two sisters: Shirley Hennessey of Little Chute and Gladys Kempen of Zephyr Hills, Florida; five sisters-in-law: JoAnn Hennessey of Three Lakes, Yvonne (Russell) Hassel of Florida, Blanche (Richard) Verhagen of Kaukauna, Donna Verhagen of Menasha, and Gladys Verhagen of Appleton; a brother-in-law: Eugene (Rose) Verhagen of Darboy. Ken is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Blanche, a brother Louis, and five brothers-in-law Marv Verhagen, Clayton Verhagen, Harland (Ann) Verhagen, Averd Verhagen, and Steve Kempen.

The funeral liturgy for Ken will be held at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 at HOLY SPIRIT PARISH – DARBOY, W5831 County Road KK, with Fr. Tom Pomeroy officiating. Interment will be in Holy Name Cemetery in Kimberly. Friends may call directly at the church on Wednesday from 3:00 PM until the hour of the liturgy.

The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to all of the wonderful people who cared for Ken, both at Dialysis Care and at the Appleton Medical Center. We will never forget your kindness.

Jansen Fargo Funeral Home
204 E. Kimberly Avenue
Kimberly, Wisconsin 54136
920-788-6202