KENNETH ELWOOD WARREN

In loving memory of Kenneth Elwood Warren, 63, of Dryden, Ont., who passed away Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at the Dryden Regional Health Centre after a courageous battle with MSA.
Ken is survived by his wife of 42 years, Peggy; sons, Scott (Marcy) and Sean (Renee), both of Dryden, Ont.; and grandchildren, Aaron, Reese, Skylar, Reegan, and Aysha.
Also surviving are his sisters, Hazel (John) Enrici of Chicago, Ill. and Billy Kay (Rudy) Kunze of Lakeland, Fla.; several brothers- and sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ken was predeceased by his parents, Elwood and Ruth Warren; four nephews, Jason Wilson, Mike and Brad Rushak, and Mark Ainis; and two nieces, Desiree Wilson and Kim Winters.
Kenny was born Feb. 27, 1947 in Logans Port, Ind. He attended Roosevelt Military Academy for one year in 1964 and then graduated from North High School in Evansville, Ind. in 1967.
While working at his parents’ tourist resort in Nestor Falls, Ont., Kenny met and married the love of his life, Peggy Wilson, in 1967.
Kenny and Peggy loved working at the family-owned and operated Black Bear Camp in Nestor Falls. He loved the outdoors fishing and hunting with the guests, and especially enjoyed his times on the lake guiding for the Americans on Lake of The Woods and Crow Lake.
Kenny loved everything about the camp. He loved the camaraderie with the guests, working from sun up ’til sun down, and he was an expert at the fish-cleaning table.
His most memorable times were spent at Black Bear with his family and friends.
In 1969, after closing up camp, Ken and Peggy moved to Florida to live and that is where he was drafted for the war. Kenny served in the U.S. military in the Vietnam War from May, 1969-May, 1970. He was point man in the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry, 199th LIB (also known as the Iron Sides).
The Army Commendation Medal was presented to Specialist Four Kenneth E Warren of the U.S. Army for meritorious achievement on Dec. 7, 1969.
A lot of people took for granted that “freedom is free” but it isn’t. Kenny always said, “Freedom comes with a heavy price.” He served in Vietnam because he believed everyone has the right to “freedom.”
After Kenny finished his tour of duty, the family lived throughout the U.S. and Canada, finally settling in Dryden, Ont. in 1976. This is where Kenny began his career on the pulp machine at the Dryden pulp and paper mill, working for 28 years until retiring on Jan. 1, 2004.
Kenny enjoyed coaching his two sons in hockey and baseball, and loved to watch his grandchildren at whatever sport they played. He also loved to take his grandchildren on four-wheeler rides in the bush, and he and Peggy would take them on adventures and ride for miles with them when they could.
He looked forward to hunting season so he could get together with the hunting crew, and always would come back with lots of stories to tell even if the stories didn’t involve getting a moose.
Kenny loved his family dearly; his children and grandchildren were the most important things in his life.
Kenny was a man who would do anything for anyone no matter what it was. He was always there to help, you just had to ask. He treated all people equally and never saw anyone as a stranger and everyone was welcomed with open arms into his home.
His strength and humour are an inspiration for all of us; a true example of how to live.
Kenny’s motto until the end was “It’s gotta go!”
A funeral service to celebrate Kenny’s life will be held Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Dryden Community Funeral Home, with Pastor Brian Eschbach officiating.
Cremation has taken place and interment of ashes will take place at a later date.
The honourary pallbearers will be Milton Davis, Glen Ovenstone, Richard Lavoie, Brad Fradsham, Dave Hackman, Pat Kay, Roger Lougheed, and Bill Pattie.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Legion Poppy Fund through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Ave., Dryden, Ont., P8N 2X3.
Online condolences may be e-mailed to dcfh@drytel.net, subject heading “Warren.”