Kenneth “Ken” Lyle Stenstrom of Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake, Indiana passed away at 12:40 p.m. on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Grace Village at the age of 91.
He was born on April 29, 1930 in Bemidji, Minnesota to Alvira (Wold) Stenstrom and Andrew Manuel Stenstrom. On October 27, 1956 he married Romayne Estelle Amos and they spent the next 65 years of their marriage raising their children, becoming grandparents, traveling the world as missionaries and sharing their lives in everything they did before he passed away.
Ken graduated from Bemidji High School in Bemidji, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1948 and proudly served as an aviation photographer’s mate Second Class until his honorable discharge in 1952. He was never afraid to try new things and served as a police officer for a number of years in San Leandro, California. He later worked in missions in Taiwan for four years, then for a short term in Romania, Malawi, and Mexico. Ken was also mission house parent at Riverwood Ranch for eight years.
Ken lived in Palestine, Indiana for a number of years and then later in Winona Lake. He liked to keep active and enjoyed being a former member of the Warsaw Morning Optimist Club and was a member of the former Winona Lake Free Methodist Church. Ken enjoyed woodworking, gardening, leatherwork and he never lost his passion for photography. He was never shy about sharing his opinion and would always speak his mind. Ken lived a nice long life of 91 years and he leaves behind many memories for those to remember him by.
He leaves behind his wife: Romayne E. Stenstrom (Winona Lake, Indiana); two daughters: Karen Engstrom (Vancouver, Washington); Ruth (Larry) Wilson (Bedford, Virginia); two sons: Raymond Stenstrom (Folly Beach, South Carolina); William (Judith) Stenstrom; ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters: Elizabeth Christensen (Eugene, Oregon); Harriet Tesch (Bemidji, Minnesota); three brothers: Arvid Stenstrom (Tucson, Arizona); Stanley Stenstrom (Paso Robles, California); and LeRoy Stenstrom (Bemidji, Minnesota). He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and two sisters.
Ken’s life will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Pastor Jordan Ickes.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
