MT. HOREB/VERONA - Kenneth Lewis Klusmeyer, 81, passed away unexpectedly on September 6, 2009 at his home in Mt. Horeb. He was born March 30, 1928 at Glenndale Farm, Magnolia Township, WI. His parents were I. Glenn and Francis (Howe) Klusmeyer. On September 30, 1950 he married Hulda M. Hauri and they were blessed with six children. Ken graduated from Janesville High School in 1947. He attended college at the Stout Institute in Menomonie, WI, where he was in the agricultural short course. In the early years of their marriage, Ken and Hulda started a family and raised Holstein bulls on Hickory Grove Farm in rural Evansville and he worked nights at Fairbanks in Beloit to provide for his family and farm. They bought a farm in rural Ridgeway in 1967, but within a year Ken joined the Wisconsin Carpenter's Union Local 314 and began his career in construction. Soon after, they moved the family to the village of Verona. In the early 70's, Ken and Hulda bought a property in Primrose Township, the site of an historic stagecoach stop. On nights and weekends they would pack picnics and take their younger children with them to the property where Ken and Hulda tore down a barn and remodeled the house using parts of the original structures. Then the couple started building spec homes in Dane County. In 1978, Ken and Hulda found an ideal place for a new home of their own on Woods Road in rural Verona. There they built a custom home, made new friends out of the neighbors and enjoyed gardening, tinkering and watching their family grow. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2000. Ken and his children were heart-broken by Hulda's death in 2001. Hulda's absence left a void that has never been filled or bridged.

He is survived by his daughter Joan (John) Klem of Westfield, WI, and her daughters Kristin (Jason) Searing and Karin Machnik; his son Kevin D. of New Glarus; his daughter Candace J. (Jeffery A.) Sutter of Mt. Horeb and their children Nate (Taryn) Sutter, and Alana and Elizabeth Sutter; his daughter Becky A. Costner of Issaquah, WA; and his daughter Brenda K. Klusmeyer and her daughter Rebecca Jorgensen of Mt. Horeb; his sister Betty (Paul) Lubbers of Indianapolis, IN; his sister Mary (Bill) Schoville of Tellico Plains,TN; and his brother Everett (Shirley) of Orfordville. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hulda, on February 14, 2001; his young daughter, Cynthia; his sister Jean Leatherman; his sister Florabelle Lamb, and; his parents.

Private family services will be held on Friday. Inturnment will be at Luther Valley Cemetery in Newark Township, WI. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at ELLESTAD CAMACHO FUNERAL HOME, 500 N. 8th Street, Mt. Horeb, WI.

Ken's family would like to thanks his neighbors at Homestead Cooperative in Mt. Horeb for welcoming him into their community and also would like to extend their gratitude to Chuck Himsel and Tim Milas.

www.ellestadfuneralhome.com

608-437-5077