Kenneth Francis Render Sr., age 85, passed away on Sunday, May 17, 2020 peacefully at home surrounded by family. He was born January 18, 1935 in Hoboken, NJ to the late John A. and Bertha V. (Reilly) Render.
Ken married Ellen Waid in 1956 and they had four children. After Ellen passed away unexpectedly in 1967, Ken later remarried and adopted a daughter.
After graduating in 1953 from Saint Michael’s High School, in Union City, NJ, Ken started his career in the welding supply business. In 1970 he moved his family to Las Vegas where he has resided since. He worked at Silver State Welding Supply until starting his own company. He was a successful businessman, having owned KR Welding Supply and Four Season’s Sporting Goods. He later went on to become General Manager of D&G Oil and after retirement he worked for the President of Norwest Bank/Wells Fargo as a part time Receptionist, where he was honored with many Service Excellence Awards. He was actively involved in many organizations such as Las Vegas Executive’s Association, Green Valley Lions Club, National Welding Supply Association, Past Chairman of Las Vegas Truck & Auto Group of CMAC, and Past President of So NV Division of National Purchasing Managers Association. He also became a volunteer at The Blind Center of NV and at Desert Springs Hospital. He enjoyed problem solving, organizing, and helping people with his positive, upbeat attitude.
Ken was an avid sports fan and a proud season ticket holder for UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Football and Basketball Teams as well as for Las Vegas Stars Baseball Team. His love for baseball and the New York Yankees was a constant in his life and his children learned early on not to interrupt him while he was listening or watching the games. Many of us enjoyed watching games with him and baseball always became a topic during conversations.
He loved to travel, camp, boat, swim, dance, loved his days playing volleyball, softball, and baseball, and always enjoyed coaching baseball for his son.
He is survived by his 5 children, Kathleen (Robert) Stubbs; Gail (Craig) Walmsley; Phyllis (Raymond) Cardona; Kenneth Jr. (Bernadine) Render and Deanna Couture; his 9 grandchildren Michelle Hunter; Christopher (Anna) Render; Elena (Kelly) Dansby; Michael (Misty) Stubbs; Sandra Rivera; Eason Sumera; Ricardo (Mindy) Calvez; Felicia Couture; Timothy Couture; 29 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; brother, Francis; and sisters Marguerite (Francis) Barre and Theresa Woods, many nieces and nephews along with numerous friends who automatically became “family”. Also survived by his partner and companion of 14 years, Marie Walsh.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ellen (Waid), sister Bertha Bishop and brothers, John & Robert.
He was a deeply religious man, read his bible, prayed for everyone in his life, and always believed how Blessed he was for the life he lived. He was an altar boy in Hoboken and reached 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus in New Jersey. After moving to Las Vegas, he attended Catholic and Christian churches. He was active in every church he attended, always willing to lend a hand wherever it was needed.
Ken loved telling stories about his life in his early years in New Jersey, his mid-life as he started his various businesses, and his later life where he traveled extensively all over the world and met and enjoyed people throughout his travels. He never got tired of telling these stories and would bend your ear for hours recalling various events in the past. He always had a story to tell, a joke to be said, and a smile and hug for you. He had many challenges in his life, but he never let any of it get to him. He lived his life to the fullest despite what was thrown his way and he taught all of us to move forward. His legacy to us is that we go through life with a love of God and Country, that family always comes first, not to forget the laughter and sense of humor we all inherited from him, and to live life to the fullest.
In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Blind Center of Nevada, (https://www.blindcenter.org/donate), in memory of Ken Render, or to your favorite charity.
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