Kenneth Ivan Darmer Sr.

Darmer, Kenneth Ivan Sr. DELMAR Ken passed away on May 28, 2015, following a short illness. He was born on a farm in Mitchell, S.D., on August 2, 1918, and his family moved to another farm near Webster, Wis. in 1919, where he grew up. He graduated from University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in civil engineering. He did surveying work at Portage, Wis., and was an instructor of Railway Engineering at U of W before joining the U.S. Geological Survey for a 37-year career in Illinois, Mississippi, Washington, D.C., South Dakota and Albany. After retirement he worked as a consultant for Charles T. Main International in Boston, on hydroelectric engineering projects in Nigeria, Morocco, Liberia, Panama, Ecuador, Iran and Korea. He served on the Hudson River PCB Settlement Advisory Committee and was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, serving a term as president of the Hudson-Mohawk Section. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank Alvin Darmer and Ginevra Smart Darmer, and by his sisters, Alice Murial Gessert and Ruth Anne Kimball and by his wife of 54 years, Kathryn Louise Harper Darmer. He was also predeceased by his eldest son, Robert Earl Darmer. He is survived by his devoted companion, Shirley Sargent; daughter-in-law Helene Darmer and sons, Kenneth Ivan Darmer Jr. (Jeanie), Larry Allen Darmer (Brenda) and Donald Frank Darmer (Carol); nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; nephews, Gary (Bridget) and Lee Austin; niece Lynne (Don) Howarth and Shirley's extended family, Pamala (George), Scott (Ginny), Connie (Bill) and Craig (Barbara) and their children. In accordance with his wishes, Ken's remains have been donated to the Anatomical Gift Program of the Albany Medical College. Ken was a long-time (50+ years) and a founding member of the Delmar Presbyterian Church, and a memorial service for family and friends will be held at the Church, 585 Delaware Ave, Delmar, at 11 a.m., on June 20, 2015. A burial service for his ashes will be held in Janesville, Wis. at a later date. Donations in Ken's memory can be made to the Delmar Presbyterian Church.