Kenneth Einkauf

Kenneth Elwyn Einkauf, of Port Neches, died on June 1 at the age of 82. In his boyhood hometown of El Campo, Kenneth enjoyed playing tennis and working on the family farm. Family, tennis, and farming defined much of the rest of his life.

At Lamar College, he indulged his passion for tennis as well as his passion for Rosie Hilgemeier (marrying her in 1964). Upon graduating with his teaching degree, he took a job at Port Neches-Groves High School where he remained for his entire career. He furthered his education and received a Master’s Degree in Education from McNeese University. He began teaching civics and coaching tennis, and he passed along to countless students his love for the game (he was probably less successful with civics). With characteristic dedication and attention to detail, he even set up a stringing machine in his home and on his own time strung rackets for all his team members and numerous community players. During those years, he and Rosie also raised two fine tennis players of their own. Eventually he traded his racket for a huge ring of keys as the Director of Student Activities. In that position he cheerfully and conscientiously supervised—sometimes from before daybreak to after midnight—the multitude of extracurricular activities that are an important part of high school life.

When their busy schedules permitted, the entire family would head to the farm in Hallettsville, where Kenneth loved to drive the tractor, build fences, and tend to the cows. Following retirement, virtually the only thing that kept him away from the farm were his grandkids and great-grandchild; he thought nothing of making the 400-plus mile round trip to catch one of them in a baseball game, a football game, a dance recital, or a graduation. And even after health problems prevented him from making the long drive himself, he and Rosie still managed to occasionally gather in Hallettsville with family and friends.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 59 years, Rosie, his children, Selena and husband Russell Rowe, and Kyle and wife Tammy Einkauf, his grandchildren, Alex Rowe, Kylie Einkauf and Fiancée Jacob Sanford, Hunter Einkauf and Fiancée Rawan Moussa, Fischer Einkauf, and Katarina Einkauf, and his great-granddaughter, Camilla Einkauf. Services will be held on June 5th at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The American Heart Association.

We would like to thank Mid-Jefferson Extended Care Hospital for the outstanding care they gave and compassion they showed to Kenneth and our family.