Kenneth Earling McKenzie

Ken McKenzie, of Stevens Point, WI passed away unexpectedly June 23 at Asprirus Wausau Hospital following a severe allergic reaction from a bee sting. Age 73, Ken was born September 4, 1952, in Dodgeville, WI, the oldest son and fourth of six children to Burt and Thelma McKenzie, rural Hollandale, WI. Ken graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1970.

Ken enjoyed his rural upbringing on a Registered Holstein dairy farm and participated in Up & Over 4-H club and Blanchardville FFA Chapter in showing cattle at Iowa and Lafayette County Fairs, district and state Holstein shows and the Wisconsin Junior State Fair.

He later became a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity while attending UW-Madison, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Journalism in 1975. Ken serviced six years in the United States Army Reserves with the nearby Dodgeville unit of 389th Engineer Construction Battalion after basic and AIT training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

Ken’s marriage to Marla Kundert took place September 6, 1975, at Blanchardville Lutheran Church (New Hope Lutheran). After temporarily working with the Dodgeville Chronicle, the McKenzies moved to Antioch, IL with Ken taking employment with Associated Milk Producers, Incl. (AMPI) for the next 18 years based out of Rosemont and Schaumburg, IL; and later at Shawano, WI after Morning Gory Farms merged in AMPI with the McKenzie family making respective employment-related moves to Crystal Lake, IL and Appleton, WI. Son, Derek and daughter, Dana, were born to Ken and Marla in Woodstock, IL with daughter, Alicia, born in Appleton, WI. Ken later took his dairy producer communication experience to gain employment at the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Madison (now Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin) for nine years with the family relocating to New Glarus.

The McKenzies later moved to Stevens Point, WI with Ken working for the National Association of Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) for seven years; then later supporting the local chamber of commerce efforts of the Plover Area Business Association (PABA) until his retirement in April 2019.

Ken enjoyed reading, photography and many spectator sports as his hobbies and was an active member in Stevens Point Toastmasters since 2013 where he was known for his storytelling speeches in sharing life experiences. Across all decades of life, Ken loved rock and roll music and especially his cherished golden oldies. He loved returning to his roots and enjoyed countless hours over his final years on the fields, pastures, hills and valleys of the McKenzie family’s Sturdy Oak Farm.

He is survived by wife, Marla, Steven Point; son, Derek, Sommerville, NJ; daughters Dana (Fredrik Fredheim), Stevens Point; Alicia (Brad) Kousek, Muskego, WI; granddaughter, Evelyn Kousek; and grandson, Liam Kousek. Also survived by siblings: Anita Huffman, Monroe, WI; Nancy (Paul) McMahon, Madison, WI; Kathryn (Tom) Kammerude, Blanchardville, WI; Frances (Mike) Breyer, Hortonville, WI and Gary (Sue) McKenzie, Mt. Horeb, WI and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Burt (November 2013) and Thelma (July 2020) and brother in-law, Jim Huffman (2023).

In his youth Ken was a three-sport prep athlete and he additionally enjoyed success playing first base in multiple post-season play-off seasons for Blanchardville in Wisconsin Home Talent Baseball League. Ken was a lifetime sports fan; including the New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers as his life-long favorites; later becoming a Brewers fan when the team switched over to the National League. Ken and Marla became season ticket holders with UWSP men’s basketball team upon moving to Stevens Point in 2005 and attended the UWSP Pointer men’s national championship wins in Salem, VA in 2010. Ken enjoyed sports writing at various times in his life with publications including the Blanchardville Blade-Atlas; New Glarus Post-Messenger and online publication, Stevens Point City-Times; regaling the energy and excitement that future generations bring to the gridiron, ball diamonds and gymnasiums. Ken also enjoyed following the careers of many local athletes as they moved on to compete at college and professional levels. In his retirement, Ken enjoyed reflecting on his life with the gifted Storyworth subscription in assembling many life memories in authoring “Ken McKenzie Remembers”.

A visitation for Ken will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 4:00 until 8:00 pm at Blanchard Hall, 204 south Main Street in Blanchardville. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Ken’s name. A private family burial will be held at a later date at the McKenzie family plot in Middlebury Cemetery, rural Barneveld. Live music and dance in Memory of Ken will be held at a later date with details to come.

Saether Funeral Service of Blanchardville is assisting the family. Online memories and condolences can be shared with the family at saetherfuneralservice.com and on the Saether Funeral Service Facebook page.