Kenneth Eric Westerberg

Ken was the youngest child born to Finn-Swede parents, Norm and Benita Westerberg, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. When Ken was two months old the family returned to their native Helsinki, Finland. Later, Norm’s business brought the family to Bellevue, Washington, from 1967 to 1969. Initially speaking only Swedish, Ken attended kindergarten and first grade at Enatai Elementary. When first grade ended, Ken and his family road tripped from Bellevue to New York where they boarded the MS Gripsholm and sailed to Gothenburg, Sweden. From there they drove to Stockholm, boarded a ferry, and returned to Finland.

Ken’s childhood was a happy one filled with ice hockey, ice skating, cross-country skiing, chess, and friends. Entire summers were spent at the family’s summer cottage in the Finnish Hittis Islands where Ken’s lifelong affinity for the sea and nature was shaped. In his teens, Ken and his buddies would often go on days-long sailing adventures in the Finnish archipelago.

Upon Ken’s graduation from high school in Helsinki, he and his family made the decision to return to the United States, settling permanently in Bellevue. For a time, Ken honed his English skills by “working at a car wash in Bellevue and watching American sitcoms.”

Ken attended technical school in Kirkland, studying drafting. His work career started at his dad’s engineering company, Ekono Inc., in Bellevue. Ken always took advantage of training and classes, and he had mentors along the way, eventually working his way to becoming an associate instrumentation and controls designer. The last 20+ years of his career were with Brown and Caldwell in Seattle, where he played essential roles in major projects such as Brightwater, Annacis, and most recently the Central Valley WRF team. Ken was known for his wide-ranging knowledge and experience, dedication, diligence, and the meaningful relationships he established with his teammates and clients. Ken loved his job, and he loved his co-workers.

Ken and his wife found each other at age 25, wed two years later, and were married for 35 years. Together they raised their two sons in Kirkland. Friendly by nature, Ken was a kind and loving husband, Papa, and Fafa. Ken was easy to be married to. Annual summer vacations with the family on the Oregon Coast were always special times for Ken. Ken enjoyed the daily NYT crossword puzzle, poring over maps, forests/woods, traveling, tent camping, music, and playing with his grandchildren, including building impressive Lego creations with his granddaughter from the big container full of the boys’ childhood Legos. Ken was an avid Seahawks, Sounders, and Winter Olympics fan.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents and a handful of beloved family pets (JB, Brandy, Bandit, Chloe, and Simba). He is survived by his wife Nancy, sons Tom (Cevon) and Mike, granddaughter Madison, baby grandson Anders, the family dog Indy, brother Dan Westerberg and sister Chris (Fanis) Beroukas, nieces and a nephew, and all his cousins in Sweden.

Ken will be incredibly missed by his family and all who loved him and had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Bridge Disability Ministries in Redmond, Washington.

In keeping with Ken’s wishes, there will be no service.

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The Archipelago's Lament

The sea, a canvas, dark and wide,

Reflects a sky of fading light,

Where islands sleep, with naught to hide,

And shadows lengthen into night.

The wind, a whisper, soft and low,

Across the waves, a mournful sigh,

As souls depart, and gently go,

Beneath the vast and endless sky.

The rocks, like teeth, embrace the shore,

Where ancient spirits softly weep,

And tales of heroes, evermore,

Are murmured from the ocean's deep.

The Kalevala's echo rings,

Of heroes slain, and love forlorn,

As nature mourns, and softly sings,

A lullaby to death's cold morn.

The sun descends, a fiery tear,

Upon the waters, calm and deep,

And whispers softly, "Fear no fear,"

As islands drift, and souls take sleep.

~From the Finnish Kalevala