Kenneth Paul Wren

Ken was much more than just the number of years he lived. Whenever he was asked his age, it was always followed by a request for verification that what was said, was actually accurate. He was five weeks from turning 89. He looked and acted like a man in his mid 70’s and had no significant health challenges his entire life. He loved feeling, looking and acting young. He worked at it, and was very skilled in the task of embracing his youth. Not by any artificial methods, but by being so much more than just “busy”. To be around him required a water bottle, endurance and a nap. Not for him…for anyone to keep up. His idea of a deadline, or the ideal time to quit, is when you are finished. Nothing short of that was acceptable. But in this commitment to “get-er-done” was also an almost childlike pleasure in doing whatever “it” was, from splitting wood for a bonfire or creating something unique for dinner with the love of his life, Lois. A full day - was a great day. A full tomorrow – even better.

He was born in Saginaw January 23, 1934. Graduated from Saginaw High in 1952 and married Lois Leininger in 1956. He worked for the Saginaw News while still in high school starting in the mailroom then apprenticed as a typesetter, retiring at 52 as the Supervisor of the Composing Room. The News was just a job that provided for his family, so when the opportunity came to take an early retirement in 1986 he grabbed the brass ring of possibilities and rode his final lap on that merry go round. He never looked back. Didn’t have time to, it wasn’t the direction he was headed.

Directly following the news, he built the third house he shared with Lois in Freeland (directly across the street from the last one) and began making crafts. He christened his new venture Ken’s Kountry Kraft’s and started out doing a small craft circuit in the Midland, Saginaw, Bay City area around the holidays. He thought he might do one or two little craft shows, you know… “just to keep busy”. In less than a year he was doing production work, outfitting trailers that were fully loaded (but returned empty) to facilitate each show. Eventually he hired his granddaughters Dianna and Ashley to help stain and sand his merchandise. They were paid with money, but also in “Pa” time. No question which was the greater value to either of them. The entire family spent many hours in Ken’s “shop” creating treasures for others to put in their homes. Everything he made was created with both his hands and his heart. He blossomed at the craft shows. He loved everyone he spoke to and took pride in realizing others saw value in his new trade.

The craft shows quickly turned into a custom furniture making business. He would spend hours in his shop unleashing the artist that always lived within, transferring a mental sketch into exactly what someone needed. Often times exceeding even their expectations. Lois would have to call him at night to stop and come inside. His “finished” timeline was not always in line with a good night’s rest.

Recently he discovered a love of painting. This new hobby suited the colder weather and satisfied the artistic muse he never lost. He spent hours exploring color and brush techniques without any training. He trusted the creative voice inside over traditional methods of learning. True art is born of such insistence. It gave him pleasure and kept him in eye shot of Lois.

He was born in Saginaw but moved to Carrollton after getting married when their children were young. Deborah (Kipling Wilson), Pamela (Daniel Hecht), Paul (Connie Scott). While in Carrollton, living the typical 1950-60’s suburban dream, he became the Editor and creator of a local newspaper The Suburbanite. Lois was lead reporter and Deb, Pam and Paul as the newspaper distribution team. He was active with the Jaycees and the President of the School Board for the Carrollton Schools. He helped with the Soap Box Derby, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Ever ready to lend a hand to help kids or join in neighborhood activities.

Early in their marriage, while working for the Saginaw News, Ken add extra hours working for Carrollton Concrete to help his wife Lois return to school and get her teaching and post graduate degrees in education. Something that was highly unusual for the time, but greatly respected by his wife and observed by their three kids. He showed by example how a family can grow and meet their own personal goals as a team. A lesson that never left any of them. Family first. Family Forever.

Ken and the family moved to Freeland in 1974 when Lois got a job at Freeland Elementary School. Following Lois’s new position as 4th grade teacher was a curious increase of human interest stories generating from the tiny Freeland Community then reported to the big city paper “The Saginaw News”. Did Ken help put Freeland on the map? Not likely, but they were very committed to any place they lived and went all in with support of the community.

After his retirement they began they began taking longer and longer trips to Florida during the cold Michigan winters. Eventually buying a condo in Madeira Beach (just outside St. Petersburg) in 2004. Always a shorts and sweatshirt kind of man, Ken enjoyed the year round perfect weather that being a snow bird allowed. He would say he moved to where the weather suits his clothes (he didn’t know it was Harry Hilsson’s words, but this writer will give credit where due).

Their daughter Pam had a horse ranch in Florida that both Ken and Lois enjoyed helping with ranch responsibilities. Ken always willing to hop on a tractor to cut grass or level fields. Lois tending the house. Ken and Lois became part of her social group and were actually missed when “Mom and Dad” couldn’t attend a party. They mixed easily with every age group. Ken specifically could hold an audience of any age. His personality was contagious. You couldn’t ignore the light he radiated. It followed him everywhere he went and shown onto every person he met. Upon hearing of his passing the phrase that was best said to describe the loss was “No, we aren’t done with him yet”. But would we ever be?

Pam and her husband moved her horse ranch to North Carolina. True to form the entire family assisted with the move and quickly understood why they (Pam and Danny) chose the beauty of the Mountains. During a holiday visit Ken and Lois surprised the family by going out one afternoon returning like Cheshire Cats with a purchase agreement for a condo in Hendersonville - just 30 miles away. Several questions were definitely asked to make sure the two of them hadn’t completely lost their minds - but was followed by complete agreement (and understanding) once said surprise condo was viewed.

Ken and Lois were seasoned campers. Starting with camping in their car with Debbie as an infant, to a tent when Pam arrived a year later, ending with the necessity of a pop up camper with Paul. The young family of five traveled in that pop up camper across Canada towed by a station wagon. Not one of the five would swap that experience for another. They were gypsies, moving through the Canadian Rockies toward Alaska. Ken showing his kids how to drink out of a cold stream and walk quietly through the woods calling out deer sounds. (Yes, apparently deer communicate). They unknowingly were visited by a bear after waking to find dirty paw prints on the thin canvas fabric of the camper. A scary reminder they were in Mother Nature’s backyard. (Perhaps Ken was calling the bear instead of deer). Later Ken and Lois would continue traveling in motorhomes, conversion vans and campers until the condo conveniences won out over pit toilets. Not a hard sell.

While in North Carolina Ken took up hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Specifically on and near the Appalachian trail. He didn’t just hike the marked paths. No, like he did everything else in his life - he would modify the rules of common sense and feed his own soul. He bushwacked his way from the safe places… to the spectacular ones. Every time he spoke of his hiking trips, he relived the wonder in the telling of each tale. He was a skilled storyteller who could draw you in so close you could smell the change in air and experience each step for yourself. The location of the story hour never mattered, but the most memorable times were around a bonfire at the lake. He loved to “make fire”. You only had to suggest it and he was instantly outside gathering kindling and his hidden lighter fluid to provide a storytelling fire. Not hearing his voice again will be a void that can never be refilled.

In Florida (and Michigan) Ken was one with the water. If it was frozen - he skated on it. Speed skating and figure skating came easily to him. Growing up near Hoyt Park in Saginaw he was always tobogganing down the steep hill or skating on the frozen surface at the bottom. He could skate backwards and with Lois wrapped in his arms he moved over the surface like snowflakes in the air. He could roller skate with the same ease. When Lois had finals, he would take their kids to Brockway Roller Rink and be ever ready for any pairs skating with the three kids, or nickels for a red soda pop. The soda part was to be kept a secret from Lois…but the red lips (his included) told another tale.

When the water was not frozen, he was an accomplished sailor. He built and raced wooden boats on Sanford Lake as a young man, pulled his kids for hours with a ski boat at the cottage in Farwell on Lake 13, and sailed Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron on his sailboat. He once crewed on a three week sailing trip to Grenada on a 42 foot sailboat. In Florida he had several opportunities to sail on the Inter Coastal Waterway with new sailing friends and even did some deep sea fishing.

He was a self-trained scuba diver who put on shows at the local swimming pools (Swamp Monster From the Deep) and had the opportunity to meet and share a dinner with Jacques Cousteau. Among his many accomplishments he pioneered the training of Michigan State Police to scuba dive for body recovery. Once married, he and Lois would scuba dive together and each of their children shared time with dad underwater at the lake. Starting with piggy back underwater dives to learning how to use the scuba equipment. He was always opening new worlds to those willing to go for the ride.

Ever the pusher of boundaries, he once dove under the ice with his wife holding his actual life line. Clearly unconcerned about the whole “until death do us part” clause in their vows. She most likely would have done anything to prevent him from this foolishness - while also doing everything she could to allow it.

The unspoken but definitely felt trust, respect, understanding that defined their love continued for 67 years and was deeply rooted from their first date. They were as one. He cut – she bled. Sharing one heart. He was one side- she the other. It is too often said that we each have a soulmate. Laying claim and too casually labeling relationships as such, only to find they lack the necessary foundation. Ken and Lois worked at their foundation and were dedicated to give the time and energy necessary when change was called for or more reinforcements needed. While it took work, they made it look as natural as breathing in and breathing out. Neither one ever took their commitment to each other for granted. The love Ken and Lois had was not a cliché, it was a way of life. You felt it when he leaned over and whispered over oatmeal…”I love you”. That happened no matter where they were or who they were with. So yes, insert a wishful sigh and envious shiver of goosebumps …it’s ok. Take it all in as the stuff great novels and classic movies are written.

Then pause and remember it was real.

Ken would mention the mountains were calling when he was near the water and vice-a-versa when on the ocean or lakes. They played with countless friends when in Florida. Cruised around the world. Took spontaneous mini adventures - just the two of them, or extended family stays during the summer months house jumping with the family. This zest for fun continued with friends in North Carolina where clogging became their passion. Ken and Lois moved as one on the dance floor. Dance floors would clear because people wanted to enjoy the sight of a this couple moving as if they were the musical notes themselves on display.

Ken was an avid hunter, fisherman and sportsman from youth, until this year. Learning to hunt and fish while being and be one with nature started with his dad Harry and continued as he taught these skills to his son Paul. Boys trips we frequent when father would teach son how to be a man. Apparently (as disclosed of late) also teaching him how to drive at twelve, claiming it was a precautionary necessity should anything happen to dad while in the woods. Whatever the case, a young Paul became of the guys and has both the memories and (apparently not yet fully shared) stories with his mother.

Ken was very active in charitable commitments wherever they lived. He volunteered at the Hospice Resale Stores, ushered at the Straz Theater in Florida and Flat Rock Theatre in North Carolina. Continuing his love of the outdoors, Ken and Lois were also park guides at several trail heads in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail. To have met him at any of these places would have been memorable, as no one was a stranger longer than it took him to say hello. He could charm a snowman into investing in snowflakes and help a timid first time hiker to take their first steps on a blazed trail. You would find yourself wanting to experience anything he experienced just from they way he told the story. Fear and apprehension stripped away and replaced by anticipation and desire.

He was a performer at heart. A beautiful tenor. The Wren house was always filled with music and more times than any could count there would be an impromptu dance with his bride of 67 years with Ken singing into her ear. He started singing at church. This progressed to performing for the Chesaning Showboat, singing with his sister Shirley for the veterans at the VFW home in Saginaw, followed by several choirs, quartets and soles with many different groups wherever they lived. For many years he performed in the annual “Sea Towers Follies” performing in skits and singing ballads. He sang at his parents 50th wedding anniversary, his son’s wedding (Paul and Connie) and both granddaughter’s (Dianna and Tom Coulter) and (Ashley and Luis Villegas). The last performance in May of 2022 singing Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable”. Unforgettable…indeed.

Ken’s departure from all who loved him was extremely unexpected. But somehow we are certain everything was made ready for his arrival by those who went before him. His parents Harry and Martina. His sisters Elaine (Calvin Clark) and Shirley (Donald Cole). But there was a special greeter for his arrival, his daughter Pam who died in 2011 instantly from a horseback riding accident. We called on her to take his hand directly from ours as we said it was ok to go. No science is necessary to support this belief as love leaves no other option. Some loves are greater than both time and reality. Some men are greater than just the experiences they lived and the lives they touched. They continue on and insist on reconnecting. Ken lived without regret, loved completely, and left without pain or fear. It would be impossible to think his departure was not as it was without giving credit to how he lived each day of the 88 years he was here.

Of recent, Ken and Lois would share a mini date on the couch at 3 a.m. The accepted interlocking of their lives allowing them to wake at the same time. They would share a graham cracker and listen to music as they chatted until sleep returned. Never once forgetting the pure joy they garnered in each other’s presence. No, he can no longer be touched or heard, but the feeling of him will never leave. We are going to take comfort in knowing he will be right there when our time comes. Trust he will meet us with that warm outstretched hand, a familiar song and his absolutely perfect hugs. He was loved. He will be missed. He was absolutely one of a kind.

In lieu of flowers or donations, the Wren family requests you do as Ken did every single day of his life. Hug your spouse or significant other and tell your kids you love them. Pay it forward and it will pay you back.