Kenneth Santelman Obituary

Kenneth Edward Santelman, 97, of Red Wing, formerly of St. Peter and Hutchinson, died Sunday, May 15, 2016.
    Funeral service will be Thursday, May 19, 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson with Pastor Greg Tobison officiating.  Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.
    Kenneth was born in Frontenac to Benjamin and Frieda (Steffenhagen) Santelman.  He was baptized and later confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Frontenac.  After growing up on the family farm in Frontenac Township, Ken graduated from Lake City High School in 1936.
    On April 10, 1943 Ken was united in marriage to Marcella Raasch of Zumbrota.  Their 68-year marriage was blessed with five children.  Following their marriage, Ken and  Marcy farmed around the Zumbrota and Wanamingo areas until 1945.  Ken was then employed in Watertown, S.D. as a sales manager for Skelgas, a division of Skelly Oil Co.  In 1948, he and his wife moved to St. Peter where he was a John Deere Implement dealer for 16 years.
    In 1965, Ken and Marcy began their second careers in the restaurant business when they built an A&W in Shakopee.  After one year, he was hired by A&W as a field representative covering southern and western Minnesota, plus North Dakota and South Dakota.  In 1969, he and his wife purchased the A&W in Hutchinson and operated it until 1974.  In 1972 they built and operated the Country Kitchen restaurant in Hutchinson.
    He was on the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce Board from 1971 to 1973, serving as Chamber president in 1973.  During his time on the Chamber Board he was instrumental in organizing the Hutchinson Ambassadors, the Plaza 15 development, and the annual Arts Fair.  He thought it was important to give back to the community.
    Upon retiring, Ken and Marcy spent many years in Mesa, Ariz.  After Marcy passed away in 2011, Ken moved back to his home area Red Wing where he renewed a relationship with his high school sweetheart, Jean Lynner.  Ken always had a funny joke to tell and loved being around people.
    At age 93, Ken became an active member of the Red Wing Toastmasters for four years.  He earned several awards for his speaking ability.
    Ken passed away of heart disease at his home in Red Wing.
    Ken is survived by children, Emily Schuldt of Centennial, Colo., Bruce (Rosie) Santelman of Hutchinson, Kathryn (Bob) Hoemeyer of Linn Creek, Mo., Mary (Brad) Nelson of Lake City and Mark (Martha) Santelman of Winthrop; one sister, Kathryn Iverson of Florida; 13 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and special friend, Jean Lynner.  He was preceded in death by his wife, three brothers, a sister, and a granddaughter, Chelsea Christina Hoemeyer.
    Arrangements are being handled by Hantge-McBride-McBride Funeral Chapels & Crematory, Dobratz-Hantge Chapel in Hutchinson, www.hantge.com.