Kenneth Chavez

Kenneth Chavez of Ventura passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Kenny was born on July 27, 1957, in Santa Paula, California, to Victor and Rita Chavez. He spent his formative years in Santa Paula and nearby Fillmore, surrounded by a large, loving extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Some of Kenny’s most treasured childhood memories were made in Piru, with his grandfather, Manuel Preciado, riding along on the ranch and evenings spent listening to Dodgers games on the radio.

Kenny had a deep passion for sports. As a kid, he played Little League baseball and Pop Warner football, creating countless memories of big games, unforgettable plays, and treasured friendships. His love for athletics continued into high school, where he graduated from Santa Paula High in 1975. Some of Kenny’s happiest times were at Steckel Park in Santa Paula or along the beach at Oil Piers, just north of Ventura.

A lifelong fan of Los Angeles sports teams, Kenny proudly rooted for the Dodgers, Lakers, LA Kings, and UCLA Bruins. He was also a dedicated golfer who maintained a single-digit handicap for many years.

In addition to his love of sports, Kenny was a devoted music enthusiast. His favorite artists included Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, The Who, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Texas Tornados, Los Lobos, and Pearl Jam, among others.

Above all, Kenny was a hardworking family man. He deeply loved his wife, Susan, and their children, Brandt and Sabrina. However, his greatest joy in life was being "Papa" to his two grandchildren, Jacob and Madison. He cherished every afternoon spent with them after school, sharing his boundless knowledge of life, music, sports, and pop culture.

Kenny was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, and friend, beloved by all who knew him. He is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Susan; his son, Brandt, his wife, Alisha, and stepson Joshua of Visalia, CA; his daughter, Sabrina, her husband, Manuel, and their children, Jacob and Madison of Ventura. He is also survived by his brother, Edward Chavez, and Joanne Liebert and family of Santa Paula. Other survivors include his in-laws, John and Dolores Dominguez of Ventura; brother-in-law Art Dominguez of Ventura and his family; and brother-in-law Ben Dominguez, his wife Susan, and their family of Woodland, WA, along with countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends. Kenny’s presence will be deeply missed by all who loved him.

The Chavez family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the Kaiser Gastroenterology team in Ventura, including Ricci Adibzadeh, Stephanie Maheu, Maria Euan, Angela Naranjo, Martiza Barker, Marisela Todd, Mary Chavez, Krystyna Emilia, Dr. Jean, and Dr. Baekas. The exceptional care you provided over the past five years gave Kenneth a fulfilling, high-quality life. He witnessed his grandchildren grow, saw his son marry, and celebrated one last Dodgers World Series win against the Yankees. The Chavez family would also like to express their appreciation to the compassionate medical staff at CMH who cared for Kenny during his final days.

Friends and loved ones of Kenny are invited to celebrate his life. A rosary and memorial service will take place on Friday, April 25, at Perez Family Funeral Home, located at 738 East Santa Paula Street in Santa Paula, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Following the service, a celebration of life barbecue will be held at Steckel Park in Santa Paula, lasting from 1:00 p.m. until sundown.

“What a long strange trip it’s been.”