Kenneth Lee Ahlden

Kenneth Lee Ahlden, 76, of Bourbonnais, passed away Saturday (Nov. 26, 2016) at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, as a result of a long illness. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. An additional time for visitation will be from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the 11 a.m. funeral services at American Lutheran Church, 1560 Career Center Road, Bourbonnais, with the Rev. Emily Sauer officiating. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery in New Lenox. Memorials may be made to American Lutheran Church or River Valley Animal Rescue in Momence. Kenneth was born June 18, 1940, in Cissna Park, the son of Clarence and Mabel Ahlden. He graduated from Watseka High School in 1958 and Mary Crest Business College in 1960, with a degree in business administration. He married Linda Elliott on Sept. 24, 1960, in Watseka. She preceded him in death on May 23, 2007. Kenneth worked at Kankakee Container Company from 1960 to 1983. He and his wife owned and operated Pac Masters Inc. in Joliet, a foam packaging and fabricating company, from 1983 to 1999. Surviving are his loving wife, Lynn Gregoire O'Brien, whom he married on Sept. 19, 2009. Also surviving are his four daughters and sons-in-law, Laura (Dale) Kerouac, of Bourbonnais, Angela (Kenneth) Long, of Bourbonnais, Amy (Kevin) Rose, of Manteno, and Jill (Brian) Pawlicki, of New Lenox; six grandchildren, Kaitlin and Matthew Rose, Lauren and Lindsey Long and Cole and Julia Pawlicki; his sister, Lou Ann Clark, of Bourbonnais; his mother-in-law, Ruth Elliott; stepchildren, Michael (Jayne) O'Brien, of Groveland, Kelly O'Brien, of Peoria, Steven (Jackie) O'Brien, of Peoria, and Sean O'Brien, of Manteno; six step-grandchildren; and seven step-great-grandchildren, all of whom called Ken, "Papa Ken." In Ken's earlier years, he was an avid hunter, fisherman and bowler. He loved to travel. Ken was active in church council and involved in his children's school board committees. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family and friends and his two pets, Harry and Murphy. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant grandson, Joshua Pawlicki.

Kenneth Lee Ahlden

June 18, 1940 - November 26, 2016