Kenneth J. "Ken" Wachter

1937 - 2018

Kenneth "Ken" J. Wachter

Salem - Kenneth Joseph Wachter of Salem died Sunday afternoon, February 25, 2018, at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House in Albany, OR, at the age of 80 of lung cancer.

Ken was known for his kindness and generosity toward others and he never met a stranger. He enjoyed being around people, particularly at sporting events. Ken also enjoyed trips to Reno and playing in Keno tournaments. Ken was born December 3, 1937, in Silverton to Joseph and Rose (Schwab) Wachter, the second of their 3 children. Ken attended Mt. Angel Parochial School, St. Mary's Public School, and Mt. Angel Preparatory School (1956). He attended St. Martin's College in Lacey, WA on a basketball scholarship, graduating with an accounting degree in 1960.After graduation Ken moved to Salem, OR and began his career as a Certified Public Accountant, first working for Rhoten, Rhoten, and Rhoten. Later he moved on to the firm of Bowers, Davis, and Hoffman. In the 1980s he started his own CPA firm which he operated until his retirement in 2014.Since the 1970s, Ken was active in the Salem and Keizer Elks, serving as Exalted Ruler from 1986-1987. He was a staunch supporter of the Portland Trail Blazers and attended many games, a University of Portland Pilots men's basketball season ticket holder, and a charter member season ticket holder for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rose (Schwab) Wachter, and his sister, Carol (Wachter) Piatz.He is survived by his sister, Judith (Wachter) Lujan of San Francisco; brother-in-law, Francis Piatz of Mt. Angel; nieces, Judy (Piatz) Carbone of Indianapolis, IN, Carolyn (Piatz) Connolly of Tigard, and Ruth (Piatz) Wehby of Brentwood, TN; and nephew, Paul Lujan of Ferney-Voltaire, France. Ken is also survived by his step-daughter, Andrea Schacher of Salem, and step-grandchildren, Tyler of Newport, Tiffany of Wilsonville, and Brody (U.S. Army).

Funeral Mass will be on Monday, March 5, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. St. Mary Catholic Church in Mt. Angel. Recitation of the rosary will precede the funeral at 10:30 a.m. also at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carol Piatz Scholarship Fund in care of the Mt. Angel School District; St. Mary Catholic Church; Mount Angel Abbey; or the Keizer Elks. Arrangements by Unger Funeral Chapel, Mt. Angel.