wife of sixty-four years Martha Jane “Janie”; children Craig L. Cogdill (Jan), Phil Cogdill (Debra),
Steven D. Cogdill (Cumanda), eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and sister Karen M.
Laechelin (Gary). He was preceded in death by his parents Eugene “Bud” and Doris, and sister Yvonne who were long-time Flagstaff, AZ residents.
Ken grew up in Flagstaff. He was a 1949 graduate of Flagstaff High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from January 1950 to October 1953, completing two combat tours in the Korean War aboard the USS Kidd DD 661 and spent sixteen months on Guam.
He joined the love of his life Janie Severson from Winslow, AZ while they were on an ASU three month graduate English study tour covering eleven European Countries. Then, while attending NAU, he and Janie married after they graduated (Janie with a Master’s Degree).
Their first son Craig was born a year later. One year after that, Ken graduated from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management and joined The First National Bank of Boston. Their second son Phil was born in Beverly, MA. Ken then worked five years in Buenos Aires, Argentina where their third son Steve was born. Ken and his family then moved to Cambridge, MA, where he earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and became a member of the Harvard Club.
He then joined Exxon spending two years in NYC and two years in Coral Gables, FL. Following Exxon, he took a job with Amerada Hess Corp. in NYC and lived in Summit, NJ for thirty years. Ken retired as V.P. Corporate Planning and Control.
Upon his retirement, he and Janie spent their time between Summit, NJ and Surprise, AZ until his death.
At age twelve Ken dedicated his life to Jesus. At age thirty-nine he received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior assuring his eternal life. He was so grateful that each member of his entire family knows Jesus as his/her personal savior, thus ensuring themselves eternal life with Jesus. One of God’s spiritual gifts to Ken was the gift of administration. He used it as an active church member; serving as Elder, Treasurer, Sunday
School Superintendent and Board Member at the Churches where his family lived. He served seven years as assistant Boy Scout Scoutmaster (All three sons are Eagle Scouts), was a member of Grace Bible Church of Sun City, AZ; He was also camp president of the Gideons International.
A memorial service will be held at the Surprise Funeral Care at 10 AM, Thursday July 19, 2018. Ken will be interned at the family plot in Citizens Cemetery, Flagstaff, AZ.
Should friends desire, contributions may be made to Gideons International.
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