Kenneth Alan Wuerfel, 56, of St. Joseph, MI, passed away, peacefully on Sunday, May 28 at the Merlin and Carolyn Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, MI surrounded by family and friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at 11:00 A.M., at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd, St. Joseph, with Rev. Bob Confer officiating. Burial to follow at Spring Run Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Friends are also welcome to visit with the family on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons, www.gideons.org or Michigan Medical Victors, www.medicineneedsvictors.org. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Ken was born on April 25, 1961 in Grand Rapids, MI to Clarence and Joann (DenBraber) Wuerfel. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1979. Then from Ferris State College with a B.S. in Printing Management in 1984. After various jobs with printing companies in Chicago and Indiana Ken found employment in St. Joseph, MI with Imperial Printing Company in 1991, and has made his life here ever since. In 2008, he joined his wife as an entrepreneur in their Cleaning Authority business. In 2011, they opened the first (award winning) Mosquito Squad franchise in Michigan.
In 1998, Ken married the love of his life, Julie Martin, and together they raised their daughter Rosie. As a family they enjoyed camping, golfing, vacations, gymnastics & cheer events, church gatherings and community activities. Ken was a member of the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor Rotary Club, Gideon’s, various golf leagues, and First Church of God in St. Joe.
Ken is survived by his wife, Julie, their daughter, Theresa Rose (Rosie), his parents, Clarence and Joann Wuerfel of Orlando, FL; and three sisters, Karen (Mitch) Hays of Orlando, FL; Barbara Steele of Raleigh, NC; Sandra (Morgan) Young of Kokomo, IN and several nieces and nephews.