Kenneth Ellis Paetz

Kenneth Ellis Paetz, (Ken) 82, passed away on January 30, 2022 at home in Show Low, Arizona with his wife, Laurie, and "adopted" son, Owen Pryor, by his side. He had fought prostate cancer for 15 years with a spirit of positivity and strength that was truly admirable.  Ken was born on April 4th, 1939 in Portland, Oregon to Rudolph Ernst Paetz and Martha Bernice (Ellis) Paetz.

The first of three boys, he grew up in Riddle, Oregon where he excelled in band and sports. After high-school graduation he attended Oregon State University with a major in electrical engineering. He then attended Southern Oregon State College to continue his education and married Patricia Adsit. From this union three sons were born. In 1995 he married Lorena (Laurie) Paetz. From this union he gained three step children. Ken and Laurie would have been married 27 years on February 19, 2022.

Ken held many jobs through the years. He worked in his father's sawmills,  as an electrician for many mills,  owned two business, worked for a trucking company, a car dealership, ODOT, and finished off his career as an traffic engineer for ADOT.

He was a 26 year resident of Arizona, moving from Kingman to Show Low in 2017.

Ken was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, until he became to ill to participate.  He believed his testimony was strengthened by his wife, and friends, Owen and Brenda Pryor of Kingman, Tim and Becky McGuire of Keno, Oregon and Bishop Todd Lee of Show Low. Jesus Christ was his Savior.

He was a member of the Klamath Falls, Oregon, Masonic Lodge 211,  a member of the Klamath Falls Shrine Club where he played the trumpet in the band and marched in many a parade He was also a member of the Boulder City Shrine Club and the Kingman Shrine Club. He joined the Elks Club when he was 19 years old and was a life long member. He held the office as Exalted Ruler, and Vice President of the Oregon State Elks Association He was also a Lions Club member for many years, serving as a trustee on the Oregon State sight and hearing committee and the youth exchange program.

He loved music and could play almost any instrument by ear. He loved big band music, old country, blue grass, and gospel.

He was proceeded in death by his parents and his brother, Leland Paetz.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie; brother, Gary Dean Paetz; his three sons, Kenneth Allen Paetz (Janice), James Paul Paetz, and Thomas Neil Paetz (Audrey); Stepchildren, Michael Alan Kowal (Nancy), Gary Dean Kowal (Dawn), and Traci Dawn Herbert (Brian); 21 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren with 1 on the way; 1 great great granddaughter; sisters in law, Mary Paetz and Shelley Paetz; and too many special friends and relatives to count. 

How he loved visits from family and friends, especially when Owen barbecued. He also loved Thanksgiving and Christmas with the Lueker grandchildren and great grandchildren in Eagar, Arizona.  He would sit with the biggest smile just watching them play. He also loved grandsons, Chad and Matt Lueker's, bear and cougar hunting stories with their hounds.

In his younger years he raced snowmobiles professionally, liked to drive fast, and loved Nascar.  A favorite memory of his was a trip to Germany with his brother, Gary, where they took in the sights and visited with their German cousins. He had pictures of the trip that he loved to reminisce over. His grandparents on both sides came to America from Germany in 1901 and he loved visiting them in North Dakota before they passed. His dog, Buddy and his cat, Baby are lost without him. They were on his lap continually and slept with him every night. He loved every dog and cat he ever owned.

The family would like to give a huge thank you to Compassus Hospice nurses who took excellent care of Ken prior to his passing. They are truly angels in disguise. 

A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at the Linden Valley Chapel in Linden, Arizona.