Kenneth Marquardt

Kenneth Arlie Marquardt, age 52 of Brandon, formerly of Westfield, passed away following a lengthy illness on Friday, October 24, 2008 at HospiceCare Inc. in Madison. He was born on February 23, 1956 at the former Berlin Hospital in Green Lake County to Arlie and Doris (Lange) Marquardt. Kenneth became a special child of God when he was baptized into the Christian Faith by Rev. Herman F. Gruell on March 18, 1956 at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Town of Newton, Marquette County, where he is a member to this day. Kenneth, who was born developmentally disabled, attended special education classes at Oxford Grade School for several years and also the summer Marquette County ARC outings. He was lovingly cared for at home by his parents and his four sisters, Diane, Jean, Joan and Susan. He enjoyed hayrides during the hay baling season and going on walks. In October of 1978, Kenneth became a resident of the Northern Wisconsin Center for the Disabled at Chippewa Falls, WI for special training. He remained there until September of 1998, when he moved to Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, WI. He enjoyed living at Bethesda where he attended daily Chapel Worship Services. At some services he carried the processional cross. Kenneth was especially fond of his Bible Study instructor, Harold “Harry” Kopplin. When the State required Bethesda to downsize, Kenneth moved to a Bethesda CBRF group home in Brandon, WI in September of 2004. Pastor Fritsch of Messiah Lutheran Church, Ripon cared for the spiritual needs of Kenneth and the residents there. He especially enjoyed visits from family members.
Survivors include his parents, Arlie and Doris Marquardt; four sisters, Diane (Jon) Schubert, Jean (Don) Krueger, Joan (Gene) Krueger and Susan (Larry) Henke; nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, other relatives and many friends and staff at Bethesda.
A funeral service for Kenneth will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Newton with Rev. Dale Boening and Chaplan Harold Kopplin officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials would be appreciated to Bethesda Lutheran Home or St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Newton.