Kenneth E. "Ken" Wernke was born November 4, 1925, at Fairfax, South Dakota, the son of Eugene and Daisy (Loper) Wernke.

He grew up on a farm southwest of Fairfax and graduated from Fairfax High School in 1943.

He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served on landing ships in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.  After his discharge, he returned to the Fairfax area.

Ken was united in marriage to Veva E. Haidle on October 5, 1946, at Fairfax.  They made their home in Armour until he was recalled to active duty in 1951.  He served aboard the U.S.S. Kearsarge during the Korean War.  He was released from active duty in 1952.

In 1952, the family returned to South Dakota where they made their home on a ranch near White River, where they resided for about one year before moving back to Armour.  While in Armour, Ken worked for a car dealership until 1956, when he joined the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

In 1956, the family moved to Wall, South Dakota, where he continued to serve as a state trooper in the Wall area for 26 years, before retiring in 1982.  After his retirement, they continued to make their home in Wall.

Ken was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.  He served as a Legion Commander for the Carroll McDonald American Legion Post #246 of Wall, and was a member of the South Dakota Peace Officers.  When his sons were growing up, he served as assistant Scout Master for the Boy Scouts.

Ken was instrumental in heading up the Wall Ambulance Service and was very active with the organization from its beginning in 1969 until his retirement in 1982.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Veva Wernke of Wall; four sons, Douglas Wernke of Rapid City, Michael Wernke and his wife, Edith, of Chandler, Arizona, David Wernke and his wife, Sonja, of Silver City, New Mexico, and Mark Wernke and his wife, Caitlin, of Grand Junction, Colorado; four grandchildren, Michael Doss, Kevin Mark, Matthew Kenneth, and Thomas Michael; two step-grandchildren, Codie and Carlie and their families; a sister, Darlene Vosberg and her husband, Clarence, of Prescott Valley, Arizona; his mother, Daisy Johnson of Gregory, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Kenneth was preceded in death by a son, Patrick Wernke; his father, Eugene Wernke; and a brother, William Wernke.

Memorials are established with the Wall Ambulance or Wall Fire Department.

Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday, August 31, 1999
10:00 a.m.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Wall, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Bob Baden
Assisted by Deacon Gene Heckathorne

Music
Rita and Gene Patterson
Congregational Hymns -
"Amazing Grace"
"In the Garden"

Ushers
Dave Curtis - John Naescher

Active Pallbearers
Eric Hansen - Kenny Lurz - Brett Blasius - Kent Lurz
Lenden Kjerstad - David Jedlicka

Honorary Pallbearers
All members of the South Dakota Highway Patrol, active and retired
All members of the Carroll McDonald American Legion Post #246

Interment with Military Honors
by Carroll McDonald American Legion Post #246
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota