Kenneth George Wand

Kenneth George Wand, January 31, 1947 – July 24, 2022

Ken died in Portland, OR at age 75, after a long battle with cancer.

Ken, a third-generation Oregonian, attended Corbett Grade School, Central Catholic High School, and Oregon Institute of Technology, graduating with an Associate of Engineering Degree.

Enlisting in the Air Force January 29, 1968, he traveled to Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, to Lowery Air Force Base, Denver, Colorado, then to Ankara, Turkey as a Special Electronics Technician. Eighteen months later, he transferred to Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, as an Electronic Navigation Equipment Repairman. January 28, 1972, his enlistment ended and he returned to Oregon.

That fall he returned to Oregon Tech, working toward a Computer Engineering Technology major.

He worked at Portland’s Allied Safe & Vault beginning August 1977, beginning as a locksmith and retiring as an electronic specialist in 2009.

When not working, hiking was his thing. Loved hiking with friends and family in the Gorge, around Mt. Hood, Central Oregon, the Cascades, Oregon Coast, the Wallowa Mts., Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt St. Helens, British Columbia, Banff, and all the western states.

Between those hikes, he completed four Portland Marathons, 1991-1994.

Before his death, he charted out a 2023 trip to four of the five states missing on his Been-There Map and to see Utah’s Grand Staircase National Park. Maybe some of the family and cousins will make that trip for him.

When his doctors asked what he wanted from life after his surgeries, he said “to walk five miles a day”.

He is survived by sisters Florence (Finlay) MacKenzie and Jan St. John, and brothers Joseph (Marie) and Allen; Aunt Donna Davis; Nieces Sharon Love, Michelle Wand, Chris Dixson, and Teresa Hilario; Nephews Robert and Scott MacKenzie; six great-nieces and one great-nephew and many wonderful cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents George & Wauneta Wand.

His family thanks St. Henry’s Cancer Support Group for years of spiritual and mental encouragement as he fought the cancer.

A funeral Mass at St. Henry in Gresham will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please give to Trauma Intervention Program, OHSU Cancer Research or your favorite charity.

Arrangements by Bateman Carroll Funeral Home

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.batemancarrollfunerals.com for the Wand family.