Kenneth Blesch

Kenneth Ray Blesch was born on January 20, 1948, in Evansville, Indiana to Adolf and Alma Jean Blesch. After a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis, he passed into the arms of his Savior on September 12, 2023. Ken worked at General Tire and Rubber Co. while living in Evansville. He moved to the north Georgia area with his beloved wife, Sherry Lynn (Sweeney) Blesch, in 1977, enrolled at Tennessee Temple University, and completed a BA in Art. Ken worked at Kenco and Bi-Lo (Red Food), then at Hampton Inn Dalton where he served as maintenance chief for 20 years. He was also blessed to work alongside a wonderful friend for many years doing interior and exterior house painting. Ken was a faithful member of Grace Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee for over 30 years.

Ken loved to be around people and found great fulfilment in his work. He enjoyed telling jokes and making people laugh. He loved telling people about His Savior and asking if they knew Him. He was a quiet, gentle, and humble man with a myriad of talents including woodworking, yard work, calligraphy, and sign painting. He could fix just about anything! One of the highlights of Ken’s life was going to Togo, West Africa in 2004 with a team of teachers from Grace Baptist Academy. He painted the walls in the mission hospital and helped with maintenance. In 2011 he made his second trip to Togo alongside his wife. On this trip he painted pictures on the walls of one of the Togolese Christian schools and taught some of the Togolese men how to paint. Ken enjoyed reading a good book, reading God’s Word, listening to a variety of Christian music, playing games with his wife, children, grandchildren, and friends, working vintage car puzzles (gluing, framing, and hanging them in the garage), and eating ice cream in his lazy boy at night while watching an old western.

Ken is survived by his wife, Sherry, of 50 years, their four children and their spouses: Angela (Matt) Johnson of Oscoda, Michigan; Andrew (Amy) Blesch of Rock Springs, Georgia; Rebekah Joy of Franklin, Tennessee; and Jenni Rae (Nathan) Oates of Franklin, Tennessee. He has 11 wonderful grandchildren, a great-grandson, and one great-granddaughter on the way. Two brothers, Robert and Larry Blesch preceded Ken in death along with his mother, father, and stepfather, Delbert Rodenberg. His two grandsons, Hosea Nathan Oates and Isaiah Andrew Blesch, were waiting for him when he entered his new home. He has two surviving brothers: Mike and Sam Rodenberg, both of Evansville, Indiana.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 17, at 2:00 P.M. at the Chattanooga First SDA Church where Grace Baptist is holding services until their building is rebuilt.

In lieu of flowers please send donation to the Transforming Grace fund at www.GraceChatt.org/required-records/transforming-grace

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.advantagefranklin-strickland.com for the Blesch family.