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Obituary for Kenneth V Nahkala
Kenneth Vernon Nahkala passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on November 15, 2006. Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Mary, and brother Vincent. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Violet (Mattson), and four children, Steven (Angela) of Glendale, Arizona, Scott (Beth), of Apache Junction, Arizona, Carol Woyak (Robert) of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and Cheryl Roever (Wesley) of Gilbert, Arizona. He is survived by five grandchildren, Marianne Cambern (Shane), David Nahkala, Kenneth Nahkala, Rachel Woyak and Jake Woyak. He is also survived by one brother, Floyd Nahkala (Joanne) and one sister, Doris Kieffer (Adolph), and many nieces and nephews. Kenny was born in Gowan, Minnesota on March 7, 1923. He went to elementary school in Gowan and graduated from Floodwood High School in 1941. Kenny was drafted in the Army in 1946 (World War II), where he played the trumpet in the Army band. A year later he was discharged and continued his education by attending De Vry Institute, Illinois. In 1948, Kenny moved with his family to Seven Pines Farm in Lewis, Wisconsin. On Oct 23, 1954, Kenny married Violet Mattson and they moved to Denver, Colorado. He worked at Gardner-Denver as a machinist and in his past time loved to go prospecting. While living in Denver, their first child, Steven was born. In 1958, Kenny and Violet returned to Seven Pines Farm to help his brothers manage the farm for his father, who was in failing health. Kenny also worked at McNally’s in Grantsburg, until his retirement in 1987. During their years at the farm, they had three more children, Scott, Carol and Cheryl. For the past 20 years, Kenny and Violet have spent their winters in Arizona and summers at their farm in Lewis. Kenny was an avid outdoorsman; he loved to hunt and fish, a passion that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. Throughout Kenny’s life, his favorite pastime was music. He played the trumpet, but his love was for the violin. While growing up, Kenny and his sister and brothers played their musical instruments at school dances, and many other community events. He continued playing his violin at various local nursing homes with the band “Glory Train”. His last performance of playing the violin was four days prior to his death. Kenny had a love for life and enjoyed being around people of all ages. He loved to entertain his grandchildren with magical tricks, jokes and pranks. Kenny’s sense of humor and playful spirit will remain in our memories and he will forever be in our heart. We will miss you (dad, grandpa), but we know that in heaven you will continue to entertain with your sense of humor and fiddle playing. Funeral services were held at the Assembly of God Church in Siren, Wisconsin, with Rev. Andy Bollant officiating. Internment was at the Lewis Cemetery in Clam Falls Township.
