Kenneth Burton

Kenneth Eugene Burton of Minocqua passed away on Friday, December 17 at the Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff with his wife and daughters by his side. He had told his family that his obituary should read “Ken was born, he lived a while, and now he is gone”. There is so much more to his story. Ken was born on October 20, 1922 in Cameron Wisconsin, the son of Henry and Matilda Burton. He was an accomplished musician in school and graduated from Cameron High School. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific as an aviation machinist mate on the escort carrier USS Steamer Bay. He was Honorably Discharged in 1946 and enrolled at Superior State College to study accounting. He married Kathleen Pakosta on April 30, 1949 in Haugen Wisconsin. Ken moved to Barron Wisconsin and operated the Pure Oil Heating Bulk Plant. In 1953 he began his career with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections as a guard at the Wisconsin State Reformatory in Green Bay. In 1954, he moved his family north to Minocqua and transferred to the McNaughton Correctional Camp. Ken rose to the rank of Assistant Superintendent and retired in 1977. Prior to retirement Ken also worked with the Bolger Funeral Home and Ambulance Service. Using his wood working skills, Ken built the spine boards used by the Minocqua Rescue Squad and pictured in Dr. J.D. Farrington’s Emergency Care and Transportation manual. Ken prized his personally addressed and signed copy of the manual from Dr. Farrington. Following retirement, he worked with his wife Kathleen in her capacity as the Minocqua Town Treasurer. His great fortune was his marriage to a partner who loved him unconditionally and just as he was. She in turn was the center of his life. Ken is survived by his wife Kathleen and by two sons, Dave (Kathie) Burton of Arbor Vitae, Jeff Burton of Cherry Hill New Jersey, four daughters, Debra (Russ) Kopp of Lac du Flambeau, Joan (Paul) Buchholz of Fond du Lac, Diane (Richard) Aschaker of Oakfield Wisconsin, and Stacey (Jason) Forest of Lake Mills Wisconsin, by five grandchildren, by one great grandson, and by one special nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, and by three older sisters, Mae, Ruby, and Gladys and by three older brothers, Wes, Orville, and Harold. As a younger man, he loved to ride his motorcycle. He enjoyed card games, singing, and golf, or as he would say, “spraying balls into the woods”. Win or lose, he loved his Green Bay Packers. He will be remembered as a solitary man who was most comfortable in the peace and serenity of his little house on Manitou Park Drive. He believed in paying your own way through life, taking care of your family, and helping your neighbors. A family memorial service was held on Monday, December 20 at the Bolger Funeral Home in Minocqua, Father Jim Hoffman of Holy Family Catholic Church officiating. His family thanks the staff at Milestone in Rhinelander and the Hospice House for their dedicated care and compassion. Online condolences may be share at www.bolgerfuneral.com Bolger Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family.

Kenneth Burton

October 22, 1922 - December 17, 2010