Former Chesterton stalwart, Kenneth H. Edquist died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 at Porter Portage Hospital Campus. He was 77.

He was born Aug. 31, 1927 in Saskatchewan Stockholm, Canada, the son of Carl and Naomi (Wickburg) Edquist, both of whom preceded him in death.

On Aug. 27, 1950 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Porter, he married Rona J. Kanold, who survives.

He is also survived by three daughters, Debbie (Dave) Smith of Chesterton, Kerri (Joe) Misiewicz and Holly (Bill) Bryant, both of Muncie; seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Zack) Alexander, Stacey and Kirsten Smith, Nic and Brett Stedman, Heidi Bryant and Kendall Bryant; three great-grandchildren, Abigail and Shelby Alexander and Tyler Smith; brothers Carl “Wib” Edquist of Wis. and Glen (Maxine) Edquist of Mich. and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by his granddaughter, Megan Holly Stedman.

He was a veteran of WWII having served in the Navy on the USS Leyte. He was a member of the Heritage Lutheran Church, Valparaiso and was an organ donor. He was owner of Ken’s Texaco Station in the early 1950s. He served as President of the Indiana Pupil Transportation Assoc. 1984-1985. He joined Duneland School Corp. in 1955 and in 1969 he became Director of Transportation until his retirement in 1995, having served 40 years with the Duneland School Corp.

Ken enjoyed fishing, woodworking, traveling, the annual Naval Reunion and watching NASCAR racing.

A Celebration of Life, Rev. Joseph Ostafinski officiating, will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15 from Heritage Lutheran Church, 308 Washington St., Valparaiso.

The family will receive friends from 1-4 and 5-8 p.m. Thursday, at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St., Chesterton.

A family prayer service will be at 8 p.m. Thursday at the White-Love Funeral Home. Family Burial Service will be Friday morning at Chesterton Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to Heritage Lutheran Church, Valparaiso, or to the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, 429 N. Penn St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Posted 10/13/2004