LTC Kenneth Marvis Taggart U.S. Army Ret., Ph.D.

LTC Kenneth Marvis Taggart PhD, U.S. ARMY (RET.)
August 14, 1937 - March 2, 2023
The dust of the Great Depression had dried up legal fees, and Ken's father, Homer George Taggart, Jr., a young lawyer in 1935, moved his family from their home state of South Dakota to Portland, Oregon in order to find work in the thriving shipyards. Born in Portland in 1937, Ken was Homer George and Olive's second child. When peace broke out in 1945 the shipyards closed down one after another. The Taggart family returned to South Dakota in 1946, where Ken's father was finally able to practice his legal profession on a full-time basis.
Even though his first few years were spent in Oregon, Ken came to love South Dakota, and in particular the West River Country-that part of the state that lies west of the Missouri River. He identified with the stalwart courage and pioneer spirit of its people, still in evidence today among South Dakotans. He memorialized some of the people and places of his youth in stories and poems. Together with his 6 siblings he experienced the great natural beauty of their state, its abundant flora and fauna, the hardships of the land, and the vagaries and dangers of the unpredictable South Dakota weather.
Ken earned a Ph.D. in Spanish and French from the University of Puerto Rico. During a 40-year career of teaching Spanish and French languages and literature at Trinity University his love of teaching and desire to foster growth in young people never waned. He published several books in Spanish, and for 12 years led student groups to Mexico for an intense immersion experience into the language, customs and history of the Mexican people. For many Trinity students this was a keystone experience in their academic preparation. One hallmark of these study trips was Ken's insistence that the students mix with the Mexican populace, use public transportation instead of isolating themselves in taxis, refrain from frequenting the English-speaking establishments and posh shopping venues, take every opportunity to enhance their language fluency, and strive to acquire a deeper understanding of the people of Mexico, their philosophy, their joyful celebrations of life and death, as well as the challenges they face in this ancient land of theirs that has produced five major civilizations over the span of three millennia. He retired as Professor Emeritus from Trinity University in 2006.
Concurrent with his academic career Ken completed a military career in the US Army that spanned 40 years. He received numerous awards and recognitions and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1997. From 1997 to 2002 he provided Professional Translation Support to Fifth U.S. Army Headquarters. From 2008 to 2019 Ken served on the Board of Trustees of the Baumberger Endowment, which provides scholarship funds for Bexar County college-bound youths.
Ken was preceded in death by his father and mother, Homer George Taggart, Jr. and Olive Hogen Taggart; brothers Homer George III and Lowell Swisher; sister Marieta Matos; uncle Marvis Hogen; aunts Lucille Olson and Edith Hogen; brothers-in-law Paul Brue and Bill Matos; and stepdaughter Lisa Warren.
Ken shared his life with two loving spouses: Nenetzín Ramirez Taggart and Doris Mayer-Warren Taggart. He is survived by Doris, and his two children, Kevin Taggart and Melinda Kline; brother Thomas Taggart; sisters Jean Johnson and Lynn Brue; and numerous grandchildren, stepsons, step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Ken and Doris were long-time members of St. John's Lutheran Church. He taught Sunday School, served on the church council, was instrumental in creating and directing a scholarship program for college-bound students, and for many years led a biblical topics study group. In 2007 he was chosen KING GALLO and represented St. John's at an annual Fiesta-sponsored event.
Before health issues emerged, he was an avid runner and cyclist, played racquetball with Trinity colleagues, and enjoyed frequent Hill Country Volksmarches with Doris.
Although he left South Dakota when he began his college and military careers, only returning for visits over the years, Ken remained a son of the prairie. He never wavered from the faith of his fathers, and the mores and values he absorbed during his formative years from his family, his church, and the people of his hometown town of Timberlake. May he be remembered as the upright, moral man he was, a patriot of this country he loved, and in whose cemeteries his family's previous generations sleep the long sleep-a man who never lost hope in his country's capacity for goodness and in its generous people.

FUNERAL SERVICE
TUESDAY,
MARCH 14, 2023
11:30 A.M.
ST. JOHN'S
LUTHERAN CHURCH
502 E. NUEVA ST., 78205

A reception will take place immediately after the funeral service. Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Chaplain Alex Serna-Wallender will officiate.

You are invited to sign
the Guestbook at
www.porterloring.com

Arrangements with