Kenneth LeVassuer
Kenneth John LeVasseur, 89, of Staples passed away March 31, 2019, while in hospice care, with family at his bedside.
Memorial Services will be held Sat., April 13, at 2 p.m. at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Staples. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until the time of services.
Inurnment will be at Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Staples, accompanied by an Honor Guard. A gathering of Ken’s friends, hosted by the family at Timbers Restaurant, Timberlake Hotel, Staples at 4:30 p.m. All are welcome.
Ken was born November 2, 1929, in Minneapolis to Thomas J. and Vina (Houle) LeVassuer. He was the seventh of eight children.
He attended school at the St. Cloud Orphanage, Mora and Pierz public schools, St. Cloud Cathedral High School before graduating in 1948, from Alexandria High School. A few months later he enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was injured and awarded the Purple Heart while serving as a paratrooper in Korea.
Ken graduated from St. Cloud Teacher’s College, earned a Master of Science Teaching at the University of Wisconsin, Superior. He taught several science and math classes for thirty years at Staples and Staples-Motley High School, including Physics, 9th Grade Physical Science and Aviation Ground School. When the Staples Vo-Tech school needed someone to head their year-long ethanol research project, they called on Ken.
After retirement in 1990, Ken was involved tivities, including; running the VFW Club for several years, was active in the Rakkasans, a veterans’ group for members of the 187th Airborne Infantry Regiment. He earned a private pilot license, built and piloted several aircraft. He was an expert wine maker, a part-time farmer, a life-long bird watcher, a hunter and fisherman.
Ken married Grace Engelhardt, they were married for nearly 50 years, until he was widowed in 2010. They raised three children: Diane (Mike) Sauer of Duluth; Susan (Bob) Rego of St. Michael and David (DeAnna) LeVasseur of Watertown, S.D. A daughter, Nancy, died in infancy. He had six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ken leaves behind one brother, Dr. Robert J. Greer, of Sandy, Utah; three half-sisters Katherine LeVasseur and Sharon (LeVasseur) Morrow, both of Yakima, Washington and Nancy (LeVasseur) Friend of Walla Walla, Washington and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Country Manor in Sartell for their respectful care and support of Ken.
Donations preferred to “The Ken & Grace LeVasseur Memorial Scholarship,” administered by Dollars for Scholars.
Arrangements are with Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, Staples.
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