Kenneth J. Warmoth

1951 - 2019

BORN

1951

DIED

2019

Kenneth Warmoth Obituary

Name: Burial for Kenneth J. Warmoth
Location: Mountain View Cemetery

Kenneth J. Warmoth Ken was born on December 30, 1951 in Oakland, CA to James and Gayle (Smith) Warmoth. He is survived by his spouse, Annette Reneau, 4 siblings; Paul (Dotty) Warmoth, Louise (J. Rod) Rood, Clifford (Suellen) Warmoth, Laurel Carlisle, his children; James Warmoth, Sandy Hosfelt (Sean), Lesley Rushton (JD), Tony Warmoth (Lacey), Tyler (Tiffany) Augustson, Kyle (Kate) Augustson, 14 grandchildren and Toffee (his dog). He was predeceased by his parents and Truffle (his other dog). Ken was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served in the US Air Force and founded Warmoth Guitar Products. Ken passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 in Seattle, WA. Burial will be on Friday, December 6, 2019 at Mountain View Cemetery in Leavenworth, WA. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 2pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 13420 94th Ave E, Puyallup, WA.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by News Tribune (Tacoma) on Dec. 6, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Warmoth

6 Entries

An old Seattle Guitar Tone chaser

February 22, 2025

I went to see Ken in late Spring of 1985 after a 30 min. phone call about Superstrat bodies and wood choices. Ken was totally cool. I drove down from Bellevue to his house and shop that I remember was "in the woods." (80th street house?) I was a 19 yr old rocker kid w lofty ambitions, long bleached hair, and about to leave Seattle for Los Angeles and the Sunset Strip hair metal scene. Ken treated me like royalty and gave me a tour of the shop where people were working and the showroom. It was incredible. We spent a good hour in the shop area. Ken was only 34 then and really took an interest in what I was talking about as he showed me the shop. As I asked Ken a million dumb questions that he completely answered to a tee, he asked me for my thoughts on a lot of the different bodies and woods he showed me and was trying out. Of course my answers were mainly ooh's and aah's as there were stacks of guitar bodies everywhere. I was in heaven. What I didn't know then but figured out later was that Ken was picking my brain, and getting direct customer input. He sold me a raw single-hum Ed VH style Ash body for a cheap price, then surprised me w a FREE raw maple hockey stick neck. I think I gave him 80 or 100 bucks in 20s. I never forgot what a great guy he was to me, and it meant a lot. He wished me good luck in Hollywood, and I the same for Warmoth. I drove home on Cloud 9.

Now, 40 years later, after 2 record contracts, 5 tours everywhere, and working w every guitar idol I ever had, I never forgot about Ken and Warmoth. I'm an old man now, a luthier/builder and amp tech, and I purchase all the time off the Warmoth website. Got a new build I'm about to click on right now!

I'm lucky I got to be alive during the rise of Warmoth and actually meet Ken at the start of his wild successes. 40 years ago, and I still think fondly of how wonderful he was to me for 90 minutes when I was just a kid. What does that say about Ken and the heckuva guy he was and will always be remembered as. Thanks for everything Ken...

Craig Williams

July 3, 2021

Ken was a legend! He put Warmoth Guitars on the World Stage. All you have to do is look at his list of customers. I was a customer since the early 80's. He made me several custom bodies and necks, he gave me the very best 5A bodies...INCREDIBLE! He was a very generous and kind soul. I am so grateful to have known him.

Ken in the showroom when the guitar shop was at the old house on 80th Ave

Sandy Warmoth Hosfelt

December 12, 2019

Sandy Warmoth-Hosfelt

December 12, 2019

Ken Warmoth was a wonderful father, husband and friend. I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with my dad at work and on adventures and to develop a friendship with him that went beyond the Father/Daughter relationship. Ken will be so dearly missed by all those who loved him.

Brady Anderson

December 8, 2019

So sad to hear of Ken's passing. I met him back in the day when he was working with his Dad and Lynn Ellsworth at Boogie Bodies. Ken and his brother Paul were very helpful to me in starting my own Guitar repair business. I will always remember the many talks we had about guitars and watched as he built his business from very humble beginnings. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. Ken is and will be sorely missed.

Susan & Cortney Sdao

December 7, 2019

Dear Annette and family, though we never knew Ken, we know you, and Chris and Florence speak so highly of him we want you to know we are thinking of you and know you are so blessed for being touched by this angel.

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