Kenneth A. Van Metre

 AUBURN - Kenneth Alan Van Metre was born on June 13, 1960 in San Bernardino, California. Ken died of pancreatic cancer on January 18, 2009. He was 48 years young.Ken was raised in Lompoc, California where he attended Lompoc Senior HighSchool. At the age of 18 he moved to Reno, Nevada. There he discoveredthe world of printing and was entranced. He also discovered his love forthe great outdoors with it's potential to brighten life.Most importantly, he met and married the love of his life, Jan Crawford.Ken was a romantic man who let his wife know how much she meant to him insome of the most creative ways. They celebrated their 25 weddinganniversary on July 16,2008 with an Alaskan cruise. They renewed theirvows on January 6, 2009. Not a day passed in 28 years that they did notexperience their love for each other. A love story to the end.Ken's printing career took them many places; all with adventures of theirown. When Ken accepted the job at Dingley Press in October, '93 he fellfor the state of Maine and it's people.His enthusiasm for life was enormous. He loved boating, fishing , and 4wheeling . He even golfed and skied. Then he discovered flying. He gothis private pilot's license in 2001 and never looked back. Flying in theskies constantly amazed him.Ken also liked 'discovering' people. He would talk to anyone. He had away of getting people to see themselves and smile. Ken touched so manypeople from all different walks of life without even knowing their names.Those of us he knew were even more blessed.Ken was a collector of stories and the teller of some of the mostamazing tales. Kacy and Matthew, are among many of the 'children' thatbenefited from his imagination and adventurous spirit. They will keepKenny alive for the ages passing on his stories and colorful, playfulheart.Everyday Kenny would put a heart in his pocket to remind him of how muchhe was loved. Ken will live on in our hearts and we will pass his storiesand love on to others.Ken is survived by his loving wife Jan Van Metre of Monmouth ME. Hisparents Beverly Dale of Stillwater, OK and Karl Van Metre of Santa Maria,CA; his sisters Joan Careyette, Karla Irby, Sandy Brown and ChristineMonroe ; and brothers Frank Van Metre and Joseph Van Metre. and manynieces and nephews and friends all over the United States.Predeceased by his nephew Keith Mensinger. VAN METRE died in Auburn, January 18, 2009, Mr. Kenneth A. Van Metre a resident of Monmouth. A Celebration of Life service honoring Ken’s life will be held SATURDAY, January 31st at 12:00Noon at the Pinette & Lynch Funeral Home with Reverend Alan Austin presiding. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken’s memory may be made to the Dempsey Center10 High Street , Suite 301 , Lewiston, ME 04240 207-795-7118 or 1 877-336-7287. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com Friends and family are invited to visit Friday, January 30th from 6-8PM at the PINETTE & LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 305 Alfred Plourde Parkway, Lewiston, 784-4023.