Ken TenPas

Ken TenPas, age 78, of Waupun, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

Ken was born September 29, 1947 in Sheboygan, the son of George and Marie Ippel TenPas. A graduate of Sheboygan North High School, Ken demonstrated an early commitment to serving our country by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Wasp during the Vietnam War and throughout various operations in Europe, leading up to his honorable discharge in 1970. Following his military service, he returned to Wisconsin, where he would soon meet the love of his life, Gardie Aalsma. On June 19, 1971, Ken married Gardie at the First Christian Reformed Church in Waupun, where he was an active member. He was a deacon at the church and often led the song services.

Ken had many trucking jobs and retired from USF Holland in 2013 after many years of dedicated service. Beyond his career, Ken cherished the joys of life outside of work. He and Gardie spent their winters in sunny Florida over the last decade. They also enjoyed renting a cottage on Green Lake, where they loved to go boating and water skiing. They embraced the great outdoors, enjoying fishing trips that often took them far beyond their home state, even venturing fly-in fishing trips to Canada and exploring lakes in Minnesota. Ken was not only a skilled storyteller but also relished meeting and engaging with new people. He loved going out to eat and had a particular love for Freddy’s burgers and custard, as well as the Friday Fish Frys at The Other Bar, favorites that brought him joy.

Ken is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gardie; two children: Karla (David) Weemhoff and Kyle (Gina) TenPas; seven grandchildren: Kassidy (Zach) Zander, Annie (Chris) Beezold, Chloe (Logan) VanEssen, Zander Weemhoff, Abby, Caleb, and John Peter TenPas; one great-grandchild, Quinn and one on the way; brothers-in-law, Ray VanderWeele and George (Karen) Aalsma; sisters-in-law: Audrey Zamzow, Winnojean (Tony) McReynolds, Marilyn (Bill) VerMeer, and Mary (Carl) VanSteenis; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 11 am at First Christian Reformed Church in Waupun with Rev. Greg Schuringa officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun. Visitation will be held on Tuesday at the church from 9 am until the 11 am time of service.

A special thank-you to the hospital staff at Waupun Memorial who cared for him the last 2 years and also the care he received at the Christian Living Center the last 4 weeks. The hospice care over the last week was wonderful.

Donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project in the link below:

Wounded Warrior Project

The service will be livestreamed on First CRC's youtube channel below:

First CRC youtube