Kenneth Jay Rosenkranz

He spent his early years attending Wide Hollow schools before moving to the Tieton when his father and uncles purchased several orchards in the area (thus the name Rosenkranz Road). Kenny attended Highland High School and was very active in Ag. He was very proud to be a part of the first place ribbons Highland High School always won at the Central Washington State Fair. It was during his high school years that he met his future wife, Carlos Joan Abel. They were married March 21, 1952 at the First Methodist Church in Seattle, WA.

During these early years Kenny and Carlos developed a love of hunting and fishing which they would enjoy for the next 60 years. During this time they had their three children, Susie, Randy and Barry. In 1957 they made their home in Lower Naches living in the new community called Cook’s Addition. In 1967 they moved “up the road to the hill” and to this day people are enjoying the Christmas tree that Kenny planted that is lit for the valley below (thanks to Barry and his family who now lives in the old family home).

Kenny was a wonderful dad. He and mom took their children on many vacations…always to the beach, but also Disney Land, Yellowstone, and Canada. Twin Harbor and Cape Lookout State Parks were favorites. They also enjoyed weekend trips jeeping in the mountains eating bologna and onion sandwiches, hiking into Lost Lake in 3 feet of snow to fish through the ice, and picnicking at nearly every picnic table in the mountains nearby.

Kenny enjoyed watching Randy and Barry participate in sports from little League baseball to playing football and baseball for Naches High School. He continued to watch the sports activities of his grandchildren who attended Naches High School and always enjoyed seeing Naches beat Highland, his old alma mater.

Kenny was “Papa” to his 8 grandkids and they loved him dearly. He took an active interest in them when they visited. They learned to check gopher traps, he taught them how to play croquet, they fed wild birds, raked and burned leaves, and pick blackberries. He took his grandchildren camping and fishing, he taught them how to mow the orchard and pick cherries and apples, how to make a camp fire, and put up a fishing buoy as a swing for the grandkids to swing out over the hill.

Kenny also had great love for his great-grandchildren. He recently was fortunate to hold his 8th great-grandchild, Hailey when she was 4 weeks old. Jake and Tyce will always remember him as “Papa Cow” because he would always give them a big bull “mooo” when they called or saw him. He really enjoyed hugging and holding all his great-grandchildren.

Kenny began working for Western Electric in 1952 as an installer and was part of the company for 37 years as it changed to Bell Telephone, AT&T, Lucent Technologies and Alcatel-Lucent. After the children were grown, he and Carlos enjoyed many of the company transfers. They traveled to Chicago, Oakland, Seattle, Lewiston, Walla Walla, and Omak. He was known as “Rosey” to his co-workers, many of whom remained good friends throughout his life. He retired as a supervisor in 1988.

During Kenny’s retirement years he and Carlos spent many, many nights travelling in their 5th wheel. Every year they spent 6 weeks in the mountains (usually Haus Creek Campground or Kaner Flats) hunting for deer and elk. They welcomed family and friends to stop by but some of us always wondered if it would be liver and onions for dinner so most brought dinner along. These hunting times often included one of their best friends, Ellis Bowhay. He and Kenny would hunt together along with Carlos. They made a great team!

Kenny also loved to fish. He and Carlos enjoyed fishing at Riffe Lake, Rimrock, Lost Lake, Clear Lake and especially Lake Roosevelt. Again, their good friends Ellis and Thelma Bowhay would often accompany them. They loved to dig clams and camp at Kalaloch Campground. They loved to hunt for mushrooms along the Bumping River and near Lost Lake. Every Mother’s Day Kenny would cook his BBQ spareribs in the big cast-iron pot hanging over the campfire in a meadow they named Sleepy Hollow. Family and friends would join them to celebrate Mother’s day, but really it was all about eating those ribs and Susie’s strawberry shortcake!

Ken was a member of Highland Community Church and was involved in CCC (Community Church Survivors).

Kenny is survived by his wife of 60 years, Carlos Joan (Abel) Rosenkranz of Yakima; daughter Sue (Rosenkranz) Durr of Edgewood, WA ; sons Randy Rosenkranz (Sonia) of Cowiche and Barry Rosenkranz (Jan) of Yakima. Grandchildren Heather (Rosenkranz) Neptune (John), Jenny (Busey) Mavin (Ryan), Leanne (Rosenkranz) Ballard (Jeremy), Holly Criswell, Sarah (Rosenkranz) Hunter (Dave), Joe Rosenkranz (Katelin), Jay Randall Rosenkranz, Kendall Rosenkranz. Great- Grandchildren Victoria Rosenkranz Luna, Colton Neptune, Jake Mavin, Tyce Mavin, Kyle Neptune, Madelyn Ballard, Jackson Rosenkranz, Hailey Ballard.

Kenny is preceded in death by his parents Milton and Gertrude (Fromke) Rosenkranz; a brother Raymond (Bob) Rosenkranz, and granddaughter Joan Maria Rosenkranz.

The family would like to thank the staff at Living Care for all they have done for Mom and especially Dad, to make their lives easier and to Memorial Hospice, who made a huge difference in Dad’s comfort these last 3 weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Union Gospel Mission or to the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Research Foundation through Keith and Keith Funeral Home.

Viewing will be Thursday, December 27, 2012 from 1-5 PM at Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue. A private family graveside service will be held at West Hills Memorial Park. A Memorial service for friends and family will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, December 28, 2012 in the Living Care Meyer Auditorium, 3801 Summitview Avenue. To share a memory of Kenny, visit www.keithandkeith.com.