Kenneth Paul Vahrenkamp, Sr. of Allen, Texas passed away on December 8, 2016 at the age of 78. He was born on August 18, 1938 to Herbert Henry and Bertha (Lehmann) Vahrenkamp in Waco, Texas. From 1956-1960, Kenneth served in the United States Air Force in Alaska, New Mexico, and Minnesota. In 1961, he married Jennie Kathryn Rooks on August 30 in Waco, Texas. Kenneth then worked for RCA Service Company from 1961-1966. The couple settled in Richardson, Texas, and Kenneth went to work for E-Systems in Garland until retiring in 1997. Kenneth and Jennie moved to Allen, Texas in 1986 where they have since attended Christ the Servant Lutheran Church. Kenneth was an active member in the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years. In 1962, he was raised as a Master Mason in the Fidelis Lodge #1127, Waco, Texas. He was a member of Scottish Rite of Dallas, Texas, the Lodge of Tranquility, the Texas Lodge of Research, and was awarded the Golden Trowel. He was also a long-standing member and Past Worshipful Master of Lee Lodge #435 in Prosper, Texas and a member of the Allen Lodge #1435 in Allen, Texas.
Kenneth is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Jennie Vahrenkamp of Allen; daughter, Vicki Vahrenkamp Allen and husband, Randy of Allen; son, Kenneth Vahrenkamp, Jr. and wife, Mandy of Richardson; granddaughters, Chelsea Allen of Plano, Courtney Allen Gray and husband, Tommie of Los Angeles, California; grandsons, Kyle Bathje and wife, Gabriella of Lewisville, Kenneth Paul “Tripp” Vahrenkamp, III of Richardson; great-grandson, Elijah Curtiss Bathje of Lewisville; sister-in-law, Martha Gayle Vahrenkamp of Waco; and a host of other loving family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Darryl Lynn Vahrenkamp, Billy Ray Vahrenkamp; and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Hall Vahrenkamp.
A memorial service for Kenneth celebrating 78 years of life and love will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 821 S. Greenville Avenue, Allen, Texas 75002. Inurnment will take place at 1:00 p.m., February 17, 2017 at Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75211.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made to the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children or an educational organization of choice.
Special thanks and gratitude to the Visiting Nurses Association hospice care team and the Simmons Cancer Center.