Kenneth Conrad Ziemke, age 87 of Parker, Colorado passed away peacefully Friday, February 12, 2021 surrounded by family. He was born February 2, 1934 in Highland Park, Michigan.
Ken had a rich and full life, and was a loving father and devoted husband. At a young age he served honorably in the US Navy aboard the destroyer USS Waldron during the Korean War, serving as a Communications Specialist. Afterwards, he attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor's degree in Economics. It was at MSU where he met his surviving wife Janet Louise (Cornwell) Ziemke. The two were married 63 years.
As a young father of three, he was active as a Little League baseball coach, taking the family on camping trips, and loved the outdoors. Ken was an active member of the Birmingham, Michigan Jaycees, where he spearheaded numerous fundraising and community events. He was awarded the Who’s Who Outstanding Young Men of America. He started his work career as a salesman in the insurance industry, and held a long career with Sentry Insurance Company. In 1978, Ken was appointed President of the Bimhi Iran Life Insurance Company, based in Tehran, Iran. He ran it for a year and a half, returning to the US just prior to the Iranian Revolution.
Upon his return from Iran, Ken continued his long career with Sentry Insurance by being named President of Patriot General Life Insurance Company, then going on to being named Chief Operating Officer of the Eastern Division of Sentry Insurance Company, based in Concord, Massachusetts. He earned numerous awards for sales and leadership performance.
Upon his retirement, he and Jan moved from Massachusetts to Norcross, Georgia. But even in retirement, Ken remained active. Ken founded the Career Network at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Norcross, Georgia. They later moved to Eatonton, Georgia and in 1999, Ken founded the Baldwin County Senior Olympics organization. That same year he entered the Northeast Georgia Police Academy, the oldest candidate at the time to graduate, and eventually became a sworn Police Officer for the city of Lilburn, Georgia police force. He regularly ran 5K and 10K races, including multiple Peachtree Road Race finishes and played recreational softball through his late 60s.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Janet, three children Steven Karl Ziemke, Kathryn Jo (Kish) Ziemke, and Douglas Eric Ziemke, as well as seven Grandchildren and three Great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor can be made to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).
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