Kenneth John Maclean Jr.

Kenneth was born in New York City, the second of four children of a family of Scottish descent. At 18, Ken enlisted in the Army. Despite counting only with a high school education, Ken was selected to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) and became First Lieutenant, serving in the Korean War at age 21. In September of 1950 Ken was injured due to a grenade blast, lost an eye, and after a long stay in the hospital in Japan was medically retired in 1952. Ken was awarded a Purple Heart medal in 1951. A widower since 2006, Ken met the daughter of one of his Chinese neighbors in Mira Mesa, Debbie. Ken started by asking her for information about a China trip that he wanted to take. Eventually, Ken “got tired of running,” as he liked to say, and married Debbie in April 2014. Ken never got to visit China, but as fate would like it, China did indeed come to him. Ken loved to travel, to eat out, especially Japanese food and chili dogs, play poker, and help friends and neighbors.

Ken is survived by his wife Debbie, his children Clarisse, Michael, Leslee, and from previous marriages Pamela, Ronald, Jo Ann, and William II; by his grandchildren Dominick, Jeremy, Jaclyn, William III, and Zayn, and his great grandchildren Liam, Landon, Lucas, and Silas.

Visitation will be held at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, US, on June 17, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:30 am, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Dr, San Diego, CA 92122, US, on June 17, 2026, from 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm.