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Kenneth WHARTON Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth WHARTON
Sponsored by St Paul Pioneer Press.
June 26, 2014
I have known you forever...........
And will remember you forever.
Mary Jo Smith Lombardo
Englewood and wheeler, Hancock Grade School, Wison High
Gayle Fontaine
June 26, 2014
To Kathy and Ken's family. I am so sorry for your loss. I was fortunate to get to know Ken the last few years of his life. He always had a story and I loved listening to them. We enjoyed going to movies a lot together. He was a very special man and I will miss him as I know you all will also. God be with him and you are all in my prayers.
June 24, 2014
Please accept my sincerest condolences. May God and your fond
memories give you and your family comfort and peace during this difficult time.
Ms Porter
Rhonda (Smith) Burch
June 24, 2014
So very sorry for your loss, Mr Wharton was my teacher at Wildwood Elementary. Oh the times we had in his class, his way of teaching was a true inspiration...you just wanted to learn more ! Upon my graduation I received a a card of congratulations addressed to "Rhonda LaBomba"...oh yes he did it !! He taught from the heart and for that I thank him, you will truly be missed Mr Wharton !
Shelley Hahn Zangs
June 24, 2014
My deepest sorrow to the Wharton family. Mr. Wharton was always one of my favorite teachers and thought of often in my adult life for all the wonderful memories he bestowed in me. A wonderful man we have lost.
Sandy and Pat Buckley
June 24, 2014
Larae and family, So sorry for your loss. I am glad I was able to meet Ken and I know he will be truly missed.
June 24, 2014
So sorry to hear about Mr. Wharton, he was my favorite teacher, he always called me "Tiny" Tim, cause i was on crutches for dislocating my knee, He will be greatly missed by his students, that's for sure R.I.P. Mr. Wharton!!!!!!!!!!
sue chandler
June 24, 2014
Larae, Bruce and Reenie, I am so sorry for your loss! Many great memories we all shared in Mahtomedi. I talked to your Dad twice a few years ago when Mike passed away...he was crying and telling me really great stories about Mike, it made me feel really good. May your Dad rest in peace! God Bless you All! Miss you, Sue Egan Chandler
Dawn Larson
June 24, 2014
I am greatly saddened to hear of the loss of such a wonderful soul! I was blessed to have him as a teacher many moons ago. He not only was a great teacher but knew how to build the confidence of his students. I was just telling my favorite Mr. W. story to my kids a few weeks ago. He truly changed me as a young women and made me feel special when I couldn't see it for myself. He was the one teacher that impacted me the most. Many blessings and prayers to all who had the honor of knowing this wonderful soul. We have a very special guardian angel!
Roberta Johnson
June 24, 2014
What a great guy. I taught next to Ken at the old middle school in Mahtomedi. He was a fountain of stories and jokes and truly a friend of his students and colleagues. Condolences to family.
Janet Camp
June 24, 2014
So sorry for the loss of yo'r dad and my cousin,Buddy,I'll miss him so much. It leaves such a big empty space in the family circle. Our prayers an thoughts are with you. We skied with him in big sky,I went to a high school reunion with him,the more I claimed I was his cousin the more no one would believe me! He was funny,he had friends every where he traveled, we all laughed at his stories, he even came out to Wenatchee WA to help us pick apples one time. He was good hearted. We'll miss him so much.
Love to all
Janet and Bob Camp
Kathy Dion Guertin
June 24, 2014
Ken was a VERY NICE man. He lived down the way from us and always had a smile on his face. Even though I didn't have him as a teacher, I knew he was well liked by those that did. My condolences to his fiends and family.
Jamie OHara
June 24, 2014
Sending thoughts and prayers to the Wharton family. I was one of the lucky students who got to sit in his classroom. He was kind, funny, and made learning fun. I still remember the little sign on the bulletin board behind his desk...'Rent a Brain' - it makes me laugh even to this day. He was an amazing person and teacher...he will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
Devon (Parent) Riveness
June 24, 2014
I was lucky enough to have Mr. W for my 6th grade homeroom and math teacher. He always made learning FUN! Sending love and prayers of comfort to you all.
mike strenke
June 23, 2014
My condolences to the Wharton family, Ken was a great teacher in the mahtomedi school district. If you need anything Bruce Or Reenie please feel free and ask.
Craig Thaler
June 23, 2014
What a great guy. I remember Ken from hockey. And the times I spent visiting with him years after. Class of 1965 I have never forgotten you.
June 23, 2014
Mr. Wharton was my favorite teacher. He was my 4th grade teacher in 1962. He took time to help me when I was having trouble with my school work. He always encouraged me to do my best. He was one of a kind, the very best!! His love for teaching showed in his compassion for his students. Thank you Mr. Wharton for all that you have done. You will be missed so very much, but always in my heart. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Wharton family.
Paulette Will
June 23, 2014
Buddy was a tour de force. He curiosity about the world he lived in was never ending. Because of my keen interest and travels to the Czech Republic and his love of travel we shared many a travel story but nothing tops his story of seeing Vaclav Havel, the former President of the Czech Republic walking his dogs in a park. Buddy knew immediately who he was and was not disturbed that the two security guards with the former President discouraged him from approaching. He'd read his writings as a playwright and knew his career as a dissident and President and he walked right up to him to tell him how much he admired him. I admire Buddy because it's obvious from these messages from his students that he also was a great teacher and inspiration to his students. Laray, Rennie and Bruce; it was a privilege to know your father and call him a friend.
Jan George
June 23, 2014
If you want to do something that will change the world.....TEACH! Thank you Kenny for inspiring so many young people to be better people and never give up!! You made the world a better place Mr. Wharton!
Lynn
June 23, 2014
Mr. Wharton inspired a love for reading! I am grateful to have had him as a teacher.
My condolences to his family.
Sue Kluegel
June 23, 2014
Dear Larae, Bruce, and Reenie,
I remember when I first got to know Ken. It was when the school district was on strike, and I was a reporter covering it for the White Bear Press. After we were introduced before a school board meeting, he looked at me and said, “Okay Kluegs, I'm going to show you how to be a real reporter.” Later, when I was interviewing for a teaching position at the school, Ken was on the interview committee. He asked me to interpret a poem that he read. I can't remember the title, but I remember the essence. It was about a son saying goodbye to his father who had died. Throughout the boy's life, his father had embraced life. He had celebrated life and experienced so much of it, trying new things, exploring new ideas – always, before the son. In the end, once again, the father left this world once mores, experiencing something before his son had the opportunity: he died. I told Ken that it reminded me of another poem, by e.e. cummings, about a couple who refused to lose their love of life simply because they grew up. For them, each day was a celebration, even though others didn't understand: “up they forgot as down they grew.” Ken never lost that love of life – that curiosity of people and things that made him who he was. There are millions of drops of water in the ocean, and some of those drops sparkle. Ken was one of those drops that sparkle. He will be missed.
I wish I could be at his service, but I will be in NY with my grandchild. Ken would understand – he knew the importance of family. He was so proud of his daughters, Lerae and Reenie, and of his son, Bruce. Over the years, he spoke to me often of them. One of my last conversations with him about them was when he was living across the hall from my mother in Briarcliff in Mahtomedi. He had a collection of western art he had collected that he needed to decide what to do with because his children didn't really have any interest in it. He understood that this passion for the west was his, not theirs, so it made sense to him that they wouldn't want to have it hanging on their walls.
Ken touched so many of our lives – he challenged us, he entertained us, he cared about us. I won't forget him.
Sue Kluegel
Grace Robbins
June 22, 2014
One of the best teachers that I ever had- amazing man- RIP Mr. Wharton
Kari Berg
June 22, 2014
So sorry to hear. I loved Mr. Wharton. He was one of my favorite junior high teachers.
June 22, 2014
My sincere condolences to Buddy's family.
Wilson Hight classmate, Annette LaManna Luscombe
June 22, 2014
My condolences to the family. Mr. Wharton was my favorite teacher. I'm sure he'll be missed So sorry for your loss.
June 22, 2014
My first memory of Ken Wharton was at Wildwood Elementary School in Mahtomedi, when my family first arrived in MN. Then there was horseback riding and playing guitars around the campfire at the house. Good times, good memories. Prayers to the family. So sorry for your loss.
Amy deBronkart Kinder
June 22, 2014
Got to know Ken back in the 60's when I coached the Mahtomedi Bantams. He used to referee many of our games. He bought my 1953 Chev pick-up which he never forgave me for.
Truly sorry for your loss.
Al Blumer
June 22, 2014
I'm so sorry to read of Kens passing. I enjoyed his company whenever I saw him. He was a classmate from Wilson '53' My prayers& thoughts are with you. LaDonna Peterson Zobava
June 22, 2014
My condolences to Ken's family and friends. A great source of energy, humor and compassion has left us, but will never be forgotten.
Roger Arent, Wilson High School classmate
Showing 1 - 29 of 29 results
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Jun
26
Visitation
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mueller Memorial - White Bear Lake4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Jun
26
Memorial service
7:00 p.m.
Mueller Memorial - White Bear Lake4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
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Mueller Memorial - White Bear Lake4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
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