Kenneth G. Patterson

Kenneth G. Patterson, born April 11, 1939, passed away peacefully at his home in Sycamore on January 24, 2023 while surrounded by family. Ken had successfully battled prostate cancer for several years but he elected not to subject himself to chemotherapy when his cancer most recently returned. Ken always did things his way, this was no exception.

Ken nobly served in the United States Army, including a tour in Germany. He served for two years prior to resuming civilian life and starting a family.

Ken was an avid outdoorsman and, aside from his family, his greatest loves were shooting and fishing, two things he continued to do throughout his entire life no matter what obstacles stood in his way. As an illustration of Ken’s determination, he is pictured on his four-wheeler with a walker stowed on the back of it. He had recently undergone surgery for a broken hip and hernia repair and reasoned, in a way that came as no surprise to those who knew him, that he could drive around the farm on his four-wheeler and use the walker when he needed to. While his doctors would have certainly advised against this, Ken was determined to do it and so he did. This determination followed Ken for all of his life and kept him active right up until his final days. Ken was an active member of the Sycamore Sportsmen Conservation Club and spent many a morning there, whether on the actual range or having coffee with friends. He also belonged to the St. Charles Sportsmen Club. Ken was conversant on countless topics, which served him well as he made friends just about anywhere he went.

After losing his first wife, Marty, to epilepsy in 2003, Ken tried his hand at dating. He met Karen McDonald, who was also widowed from her first spouse. Ken and Karen hit it off instantly and seemed to share a kinship from their mutual experience of losing their spouses. They married in 2005 and spent nearly two decades of the golden years traveling and living their best lives. Their engagement gifts to one another were matching four-wheelers, hers in red and his in green. They would spend countless hours exploring on trails in both Illinois and Wisconsin. They were both members Parish Highlanders ATV Club. Ken owned a cabin on Post Lake in Elcho, WI that was truly his “happy place.” He visited this cabin regularly and as recently as late last year. Ken took pride in the work he did in maintaining and improving the cabin over the years. He developed strong friendships with many of the other residents on the lake, which was really true to form for Ken.

When back home in Illinois, Ken spent most of his time in the basement, oftentimes loading shells for his vast gun collection, or in the pole barn, where he tackled any number of projects most people would have shied away from attempting on their own. He was a skilled craftsman and woodworker who enjoyed working with his hands. When faced with a challenge for which no easy solution existed, he would consult with others and then strategize different ways in which to tackle the project until it was done. There really was no quit in Ken.

Ken is survived by his spouse, Karen (nee McDonald) Patterson; two daughters, Colleen (Mike) Nykaza and Arlene (Mark) Drozek; stepsons, Greg (Lisa) McDonald and Jeff (Janell) McDonald; and stepdaughter, Becky (Sean) Hruby; 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; brothers, Wayne (Mary) Patterson and Ron (Carol) Patterson; and a sister, Linda Estes.

Cremation care provided by Torman Funeral Home, Paw Paw, IL. Ken will be laid to rest in a private ceremony. Please visit www.TormanFuneralHome.com to sign the online guest book.