Obit: Dix, Rev. Kenneth A. (1940 - 2014)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Aschebrock, Brady, Dix, Ewan, Hansen, Meyer, Schumacker-Dix, Weinkauf, Wells, Werner

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 8/13/2014

Dix, Rev. Kenneth A. (18 OCT 1940 - 6 AUG 2014)

Reverend Kenneth A. Dix, 73, a former Colby resident, died unexpectedly Wednesday August 6, 2014 at his home at Lake Holcombe.

He was born October 18, 1940, in Stratford, son of the late Alvin C. and Norma (Werner) Dix.

On June 22, 1974, he was united in marriage to Suzanne Ewan at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Wausau.

He attended Stratford Public Schools and graduated from Stratford High School in 1958. In 1962, he graduated from Lakeland College and in 1965, graduated from United Theological Seminary. During his summer breaks from Seminary, he ministered to congregations in Berne, Indiana as well as in Fullerton and Merricourt, North Dakota.

Rev. Kenneth A. Dix ministered to the communities of Athens and Colby from August 15, 1965 until the time of his retirement on August 30, 2009. From the time of his retirement until the present, Pastor Dix continued his ministry to those in need at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home and truly enjoyed the friendship of the people he worked with. For the past few years, he was visitation pastor at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Wausau.

Through the years, Ken was an active member in the communities he served. In Colby, he served 20 years in city government-eight of those years as mayor, served on the Fire Department, and was one of the first five EMT's serving in that capacity for over 30 years. He also was a longtime member of the Colby Lions Club, receiving the Melvin Jones Award in 2002, and was a Colby Chamber of Commerce member, having been honored as Citizen of the Year. Ken split his time between the two counties he was associated with, serving on the Marathon County Housing Association and the Clark County Economic Development. He was an active member of the Marshfield Masonic Lodge, Zor Shriners, and Colby Rural Arts Museum, using his leadership skills to promote rural arts.

Ken will be fondly remembered as being a loving husband and father. As a true people person, he was a mentor to many, and enjoyed sharing his insights and relating the Scriptures to people's everyday lives. He lived to help those in need, and his greatest joy was being with family and friends. He remembered people, listened to their stories and connected their backgrounds weaving history from the past and connecting it to the present.

His interests were many and varied; He enjoyed flower gardening, trips to Biloxi, hunting in Montana, antiquing in Door County, enjoying the Florida warmth, and touring the covered bridges in Illinois. Ken loved spending time tinkering in the garage at Lake Holcombe, where he stored and refurbished the treasures he collected.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Suzanne Dix, Holcombe, two daughters, Katie Dix, Chanhassen, MN, and Lindsey Dix, Ephraim, one sister, Harriet (LaVern) Wells, New Glarus, sister-in-law, Karen Schumacker-Dix, Edgar, brother-in-law Richard (Nancy) Ewan, Athens, and sister-in-law Diane Meyer (Kevin Brady) Chippewa Falls, Nieces and Nephews, along with many other relatives and friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jacob and Sophia (Aschebrock) Dix, maternal grandparents, Edward and Pauline (Weinkauf) Werner, and his brother, Jim Dix.

Funeral services will be at Noon Wednesday August 13, 2014 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Athens. Rev. Teri A. Hansen will officiate. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at First United Church of Christ, Colby, where there will be a Masonic Memorial Service at 4:00 p.m. On Wednesday, visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Christ United Church, Athens. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com