Ken Templin

Business Executive and Civic Volunteer, passes Former President/CEO of Quality Park Envelope Co. in St Paul. Passed away on July 8, 2011. He was 84 years old. In addition to being a local business executive, Ken was active in community service during retirement, serving on the boards of local non-profits and volunteering for charities and educational programs. Kenneth Elwood Templin was born on January 26, 1927 on a small farm south of Mason City, NE. He served in the US Army as part of the Occupation Forces in Japan through 1946. Upon returning to Nebraska after WWII, Ken graduated with a BS in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska in 1950. Ken met Elaine Ressel from O'Neill, NE who was attending the Bryan Memorial School of Nursing in Lincoln, and they married in 1951. Ken and Elaine moved to Detroit where Ken obtained his MBA from Wayne State University and started a career in automotive manufacturing management that would include working for Ford Motors, Chrysler and Chrysler Marine. During this time, they had five children together. In 1970, Ken moved his family to Minnesota to become General Manager of Brown & Bigelow in St Paul. For the next 27 years Ken was active in the paper products industry. His career included senior management positions as Sr. VP at Standard Packaging, Exec. VP at Saxon Industries and Alco Standard. Ken ended his career as President/CEO of Quality Park Envelope Company in St Paul. In retirement, Ken was active in community service. Using his business experience, Ken joined SCORE and counseled young entrepreneurs locally, nationally and in the global market. As a SCORE counselor Ken assisted dozens in starting and growing their businesses. He looked forward to daily answering the steady flow of emails from new and on-going clients. He also joined the International Executive Service Corps and went on assignment to offer advice to companies in Russia and the Republic of Georgia. Ken was also an active volunteer with social and civic groups in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and a member at the Westminister Presbyterian Church. He joined the boards of the West Hennipen Counseling Service, a drug counseling and rehabilitation clinic for young men, the Brain Injury Association, and the Hennipen History Museum. One of Ken's passions in retirement was working with the University of Minnesota's English as a Second Language Program for the Twin Cities community. Ken specialized in working with immigrants from the Baltics and Middle East. Ken also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and Minneapolis Junior Achievement. In retirement Ken said, "My volunteer work gave me an opportunity to give back to the country that had been so kind to me." Ken believed in giving 100 percent, doing the right thing, persevering through difficulties and finishing what he started. He respected people who worked hard and considered it a high calling to trust and treat people fairly. He stood up for what he believed, but was there to work with those who believed differently. Ken saw life as a series of lessons, which if you paid attention would teach you how to serve God, love and provide for your family, and live peaceably with your fellow man. In life he was a captain, a champion, a warrior. Ken is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Elaine; children, Steven K. of Boyce, LA, David S. of Charlotte, NC, Daniel E. of Danville, CA, Benjamin A. of San Diego, CA, and Elizabeth E. of Warren, NJ; and grandchildren, Sarah, Megan, Kyle, Andrea, Tara, Abigail, Allison & Justin. A memorial service was held at the Carriage Club on Old Providence Road at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 16. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Charlotte Hospice at 1420 East 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204.