Kenneth “Ken” Frerking passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Good Shepherd Care Community in Concordia, MO, Sunday evening October 29, 2023. He lived well for 77 years.
Ken was born to Walter and Erna (Stuenkel) Frerking on May 31, 1946. He was baptized June 23, 1946, and confirmed in the Lutheran faith on April 10, 1960, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Concordia, MO. He graduated from St. Paul’s Lutheran Grade School and Concordia High School (Class of ’64) then completed his undergraduate degree in Industrial Technology from Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg, MO. Ken completed his military commitment in the Missouri National Guard (‘69-’76) and was a member of the 135th Group Headquarters Battery in Sedalia, MO.
On June 18, 1966, Ken and Carol Jean Vogelsmeier were united in marriage at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Sweet Springs, MO. Their 57-year marriage was blessed with the birth of twin daughters, Kendra and Carla, on August 8, 1968. Ken, along with Carol, was a life-long resident of the Concordia area and a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Emma, MO. He enjoyed serving for many years as a church official and on various committees.
Ken also served his community in the Emma Civic Club, Jaycees in Concordia, Tri City Country Club, Lafayette County Enterprises, and the I-70 Hospital Scholarship Foundation.
Ken, at 55 years of age, retired from Hallmark Cards, Inc. in 2001 after working for the company his entire professional career. He was offered and accepted a position as Plant Layout Specialist while finishing his B.S. at CMSU and ascended to Director of Operations, Planning and Management. Throughout Ken’s 33 years with Hallmark Cards, Inc., he was in Operations with the sole function to produce and deliver millions of products that Hallmark creates to 50,000 retail accounts. As division head, Ken’s management responsibility included capacity planning, scheduling, subsidiary integration, and translating the many marketing and production design challenges into operational capabilities for Hallmark production and distribution centers in the United States and Canada. He also worked with international organizations and suppliers. In addition to extensive travel in North America, his international travels with the company took him to Ireland, England, France, Germany, Portugal, and China.
Ken was blessed with a broad range of talent including the work ethic to develop them. He was an avid fisherman who had no problem filling a stringer. He enjoyed golfing with his friends. He painted landscapes from around the world to remember the many trips he enjoyed with Carol and friends; these landscapes hang around the home he designed and built in 1979. He sculpted wildlife from logs by chainsaw and made many other beautiful family treasures in his wood shop, including furniture for his home as well as for his grandchildren.
Ken was a planner. He had a plan for everything he accomplished; an unchecked item wasn’t an option. He enjoyed his work and hobbies but was also devoted to happy hour, even when fishing on a boat in a Canadian lake, the call to shore at five o’clock was impressive to his nephews on the fishing trip. Enjoying a sunrise and sunsets were very common. He and Carol were always there to support and enjoy his grandchildren for church and school events.
Ken is survived by his wife, Carol of the home: daughters Kendra (William) Nolte of Chillicothe, MO, and Carla Frerking of Warrensburg, MO, along with his grandchildren Meagan (Selena) Martin of Columbia, MO, and Alex Nolte of Kansas City, MO. Ken is also survived by brothers Paul (Jean) Frerking of Concordia, MO; Roland (Betty) Frerking of Spring, TX; Brian (Elizabeth) Frerking of Concordia, MO. Ken was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Erna Frerking and his brother Bob Frerking.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday November 4, 2023, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, MO. Ken’s funeral and graveside services will follow immediately.
Memorials are suggested to the Holy Cross Endowment Fund in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com
Baptized June 23, 1946
Confirmation April 10, 1960
Confirmation verse: Matthew 10:32