KENNETH GERARD THELEN Sr.

THELEN KENNETH GERARD, SR., 91, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, formerly of Livonia, Michigan, passed away Friday, February 21, 2014, following a period of declining health. A native of Detroit, MI, he retired to Hendersonville in 1984. He was a son of the late Andrew and Margaret Thelen, and the husband of the late Mary Kipper Thelen, who died in 1986. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Andrew Vincent Thelan. He graduated from The University of Detroit with a Master's Degree in Business Administration in 1952 and retired in 1983 from Ford Motor Company in Dearborn following thirty-eight years of service. He was a former member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church and was an Army veteran of WWII. Survivors include his wife of twenty-five years, Velma Huggins Thelen of Hendersonville; two sons, Kenneth G. Thelen, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Northville, MI, Brian G. Thelen and his wife Janis of Sterling Heights, MI; a daughter, Andrea T. Neumeyer and her husband Aaron of Hendersonville; a sister, Geraldine Gilmour of Hendersonville; seven grandchildren, Amy, Rory, Adrianne, Kyle, Patrick, Erin, and Amanda; two great-granddaughters, Evangeline and Aurelia; and a number of nieces and nephews. Kenneth was a devout Catholic, loving husband, father, and grandfather. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 am Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hendersonville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Fund for UDM c/o The University of Detroit Mercy, 4001 W. McNichols Road, Detroit, MI 48221. An online guest book is available at www.forestlawnhendersonville.com. Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.