Kenneth E. Nolan

 

In Loving Memory of Kenneth E. Nolan June 6, 1920 – May 11, 2010   Ken was born in Ruthton, MN and spent his early years in rural Minnesota and Illinois before moving to the Chicago area. Ken served during World War II as a pilot of the Salty Dog in the 8th Air Force, 487th Bomb Group, 839th Bomb Squadron. He often entertained those around him with humorous stories from the war which also reflected the comradery of his tour of duty. Upon return, he married his wife, Vada (Mohlke) on Sept. 1, 1946. Ken and Vada started their family and lived in Wanatah, IN as he worked as an ironworker in Chicago. He also went back to school to earn his BS in Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.   In 1960, Ken moved his family to St. Louis to continue his career as a structural engineer at Granco and MacFab companies. He was proud of several of the jobs that he worked on, including the Prudential Building and Sears Tower in Chicago, the World Trade Center in NYC and several bridges, especially the ones in Colorado and Utah. Ken was a good athlete and enjoyed playing volleyball and tennis.    Upon retirement, Ken and Vada moved to Blue Eye, Mo. He loved sitting on his front porch to watch approaching storms or sunsets over Table Rock Lake. Through out his life he loved to listen to music and his retirement years were no exception. He also enjoyed working on the community water system, maintaining the lawn and puttering in his workshop.   Ken loved his four “girls” and was very proud of his family --  his wife of 63 years Vada (Mohlke) Nolan; daughters Pat Hotze (Dale) of Shawnee Mission, Ks, Sandy of Gasconade Co, Mo, and Pam of Kansas City, Mo. He is also survived by his grandchildren Wes Hotze (Mia) of Kansas City and Ashley O’Connor (Chris) of Waterbury, CT; and two great grandchildren (Annamarie and Benjamin). Ken loved his extended family which included Teresa Brown, a close friend of the family, his nieces and nephew and his sister-in-law.    Memorials may be made to Kansas City Hospice, 9221 Ward Pkwy, Ste 100, Kansas City, Mo 64114. No services are planned.