Kenneth Richard Warren, Jr.

Kenneth Richard Warren, Jr., age 95 of Portage, MI passed away on September 1, 2024. He was born June 13, 1929, in Kalamazoo, MI to the late Kenneth Richard Warren, Sr. and Gertrude (Clement) Warren. 

Ken was a truly noble man who helped many people around the world over many decades - as a manager and executive, as a liberal Christian, as a humanitarian. Whether standing up for labor rights and ethical business practices, cultivating public health care services in under-developed nations, advising budding entrepreneurs seeking to make an impact, or volunteering to sit and listen and offer end-of-life support to hospice patients, he did his utmost to better this world. Most of all though, he loved and cared for his family. He was a guiding light in all our lives, and we are so very lucky to have had him as a major part of it. His laugh, his warmth, and his inspiration will live on in our memories, forever pointing the way forward. We will miss him immensely. 

We believe his work ethic was shared by all. His specialty was diplomacy, both in business and in his personal relationships. Ken truly knew what it meant to walk in others’ shoes. 

He began working at a young age, his first job being around eleven years old at Campbell Lake, helping his aunt and uncle rent fishing boats for room and board. He continued to work throughout his youth from jobs like the Kalamazoo Celery Farm (for 25 cents), JCPenney, Tom McCann shoe store (where he learned to never tell a lady her real shoe size) and Vans Furniture (where he used geometry to figure out how to get furniture up multiple floors). He continued in college, working summers with BorgWarner, Shakespeare, WK Kellogg. He was known to be a hard worker, often picking up shifts when others didn’t show, and taking shifts so that farmers could do just that- farm. This is when he got rheumatic fever and met his first wife, Mary Margaret, who was his nurse, with whom he shared 56 years of marriage. 

After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University, Kenneth went to serve many companies such as: Ingersol, Dudco/New York Airbreak, Pemco Wheel, Reform Church, Mission (where he devoted five years of mission work, four of which were spent in Bahrain, one in New York), then Stryker, Eckrich and the Development of Small Business Association at Kalamazoo College. 

Kenneth’s dedication to service continued in his later life, being associated with many organizations and a devoted volunteer. He was involved with Centrica Care Navigators (formerly Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan), Junior Achievement, condo president, the Rotary Club and the Boys and Girls Club. 

In his free time, you could find Ken sailing on his little yellow sailboat in South Haven and Traverse City, attending the Kalamazoo Concert Band or Kalamazoo Symphony shows or even enjoying baseball games in person or on TV, the Tigers being his favorite. 

He was always there for his family, especially his grandkids- attending every birthday, sports game, concert and dance recital. 

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mary Margaret (Proxmire) Warren; his second wife, Darlene Pontello-Warren and his two brothers: Duaine and Roger Warren.

Kenneth is survived by his four children: Richard (Gail) Warren, Robin Warren Lee (John), Kenneth Christopher (Robin) Warren and David (Michelle) Warren; 10 grandchildren: Aaron (Jessica), Bryan (Lindsay), Jason (Ambrosia), Jessica (Rudy), Brooks (Nicky), Casey (Vanessa), Sara (Robert), Samantha (Chris), Lindsey (Lance) and Charles (Jodi); 15 great-grandchildren: Clara, Adam, Alistair, Diesal, Jacob, Brady, Casey, Katherine, Olivia, Oliver, Aidan, Roslyn, Lawrence, Leo, Lucas and dear friend, Jean Warfield. 

A visitation will be held on Friday September 20, from 4:00-7:00pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial and Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49006. The next day, Saturday September 21, a funeral service will be held at the same location at 11:00am with an hour of visitation prior. Following the service, a burial will be held at 1:00pm at Mt. Ever Rest Memorial Park South, 3941 S Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Kenneth’s name to Centrica Care Navigators (hospice organization Ken worked with Giving - Centrica Care Navigators), Alzheimer’s Foundation (Donate - Alzheimer's Foundation of America), or Parkinson’s Foundation (Make a Donation - Parkinson's Foundation). 

 To view Kenneth's personalized guestbook, please visit https://www.langelands.com.