Kenneth William Heiden

Kenneth William Heiden, age 96, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, surrounded by family and loved ones. Ken was a proud and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who shaped his family and community through his daily example of love, ethics, commitment, hard work and unwavering, unconditional support for his family and friends. Throughout his life, Ken was a devoted family man who married his first and only love, Eileen, and remained with her for 69 years until her passing in 2019. His marriage and lifelong commitment and dedication to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are a true testament of their love for one another and what a good marriage, and morally grounded life, is supposed to look like. 

Ken was born in Barrington, IL on August 22, 1927 and was raised on his parent’s farm. He was a fixture in the Barrington community for the last 97 years, serving and volunteering for countless local and community efforts. 

As a young man, Ken served his nation by volunteering for the United States Armed forces and serving as a Medical Technician in Okinawa, Japan during World War II. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Barrington to pursue his passion for race cars. Ken and his father built his cars from scratch, and he raced competitively throughout Illinois and Wisconsin for several years, taking the checkered flag multiple times. 

Ken remained physically and mentally active all of his life, and daily walks were one of the highlights of his day and truly brought him happiness. He loved catching up with his family and his neighbors, often plowing the driveways of working neighbors in the wintertime, and he always had a surplus of dog treats in his pocket. Despite bad knees and using a walker in his later years, Ken knew that the dogs were counting on him for a pet on the head and a tasty treat. Ken’s innate character, kindness, quiet confidence, big smile and bright hazel eyes will be remembered by all and will be sorely missed. 

Ken is survived by his loving children, Cherie Huber, Renee (Edward) Klingberg, Maureen (Kathy Bretz) Heiden, and Quinn (Paige) Heiden; devoted grandfather of Ashley, Ryan, Shauna, Brittany, Jared, Savannah, and Keegan; treasured great-grandfather of Gianna, Armani, Rocco, and Ivy.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 69 years, Eileen Heiden.

A visitation for Ken will be held from 3:30pm until the time of service at 6:30pm on Saturday, August 24th, 2024 at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 149 W. Main Street (Lake-Cook Rd) Barrington, IL 60010. Burial will take place at 10am the following morning at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ken's name may be made to Second City Canine Rescue, 570 N. Smith St. Palatine, IL 60067.