Kenneth Duane Marden, 81, of Cloquet, Minn., passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton, Minn. He was born Jan. 10, 1926, in Staples, Minn., to Luke and Margaret (Cain) Marden, one of seven sons and seven daughters. Ken was educated in the Sacred Heart and Staples High Schools. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943, where he served on four aircraft carriers, USS Leyte, USS Takanis Bay, USS Ranger, and USS Salerno Bay in the North Atlantic, South Pacific and Mediterranean Sea in World War II and the Korean War. Ken was united in marriage to Marinda Thompson on Aug. 29, 1950, in Staples, Minn. He worked for Northwestern Bell Company for 33 years in construction, installation, and Yellow Page sales until he retired in 1981. His work with Northwestern Bell brought him to live in Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Sauk Centre, Duluth and Minneapolis. Ken and Marinda retired to Cloquet in 1981. He was active in scout leadership, little league, Nicholas-Sellgren VFW Post 2962, the American Legion, Bishop Welch Council 5132 Knights of Columbus, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Big Lake Improvement Association, Perch Lake Township, Elks Club, Telephone Pioneers, Golden K Kiwanis Club, Safari Club International, and was a union steward for the Communication Workers of America. Ken had an enduring passion for hunting and fishing here in northern Minnesota, and passed this on to his family. He also took trips to Wyoming, Montana and Canada, hunting elk, deer, moose and arctic char fishing on Victoria Island above the Arctic Circle. This year was the first time in more than 50 years that Ken missed the Minnesota deer season.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and three sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Marinda; four children, Steven (Kari), David, Anne (Fabian) Krafthefer, and John (Tricia); 10 grandchildren, Kirstin Lukes, Kristof (Flora) Marden, Tara Marden, Holly (Eric) Johnson, Matt Krafthefer, Emilee Krafthefer, Peter Krafthefer, Jack Marden, Hannah Marden and Lucy Marden; and three great-grandchildren, Theo and Oliver Lukes and Gabriel Johnson; three brothers, four sisters; and over 70 nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. The visitation resumed Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral mass at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Cloquet, celebrated by the Rev. Father Keith Bertram. Music was provided by Mary Smith as organist and Regina Roemhildt as soloist. Pallbearers were his 10 grandchildren. Military honors were presented by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Interment services was 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at Evergreen Hills Cemetery in Staples, Minn.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton.
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The family has selected Nelson Funeral Care, Cloquet, (218) 879-3225, to assist them with arrangements. See their online guest book at www.legacy.com .
December 6, 2007
- Cloquet, Minn.
