Monday, January 20, 2025
Kenneth C. Schelk, 89, of Kiel, passed away at home, surrounded by his family on Thursday, January 2, 2025. He was born October 11, 1935, in Sheboygan County, to the late Walter and Helene (Koeser) Schelk. Kenneth attended Plymouth High School until he left to serve his country in the United States Army. He served from 1955 until 1957 and then served with the Army Reserves until 1962. On October 26, 1967, he married Faye Widder.
Kenneth was the owner of multiple small businesses including a furniture store in Howards Grove, a carpet and paint store in Merrill and a grocery store in Edwards, before retiring as a car salesman at Rodewald Buick in 1996. He loved his time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His interests included fishing, hunting, card playing, cutting his own firewood until he was 82, gambling and camping trips with his family. His family wishes they had a dollar for every fish he caught.
In addition to his wife of 57 years, Faye, he is survived by his daughters, Tammy (Todd) Matzdorf and Tracy (Casey) Litz; Tanya (Dean) Gosse; his son-in-law Jon Thome; his grandchildren, Cassandra Thiessen, Stephanie (Jordan) Adams, Jessica Kimme (Matthew Parmley), Amber Kimme (Joshua Schneider), Amy (Josh) Diedrich, Jonathan Thome (Gabby Tuck), Grant Thome, Hannah Gosse and Chase Gosse; his six great-grandchildren; his siblings, Roger (Diane) Schelk, Beatrice Grunewald, Walter (Verna) Schelk Jr, Carol (Dennis) Roethel; his sisters-in-law, Dede Schelk and Bernice (Ken) Justinger; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Trudy Thome, his mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law, Reuben (Jean) Widder and Dorothy (Robert) Ehlenbeck; his brothers, Roy and Donald, his infant sister and two infant brothers, his sisters-in-law, Patricia Grunewald, Julie Schelk and Doris Widder; his brothers-in-law Richard Widder, James Waterman Jr, Carl Grunewald Jr.
A funeral service for Kenneth will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Meiselwitz-Vollstedt-DeTroye Funeral Home (815 6th Street, Kiel). Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 8, at the funeral home, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Thursday, at the funeral home, from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. when brief family rites will be held.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their amazing care and support, especially his nurses Michelle and Christine and to Debbie Knoener for her comfort during Daddy’s last moments.
