Kenneth Milton Weidkamp

Kenneth Milton Weidkamp entered heaven’s gates on July 24, 2018 surrounded by his family. He and his twin sister, Kathleen, were born May 28, 1928 to Theodore Milton Weidkamp and Nellie Ecker in Lynden, Washington. He grew up in Lynden, WA and worked summers at a cranberry processing plant. He graduated from University of Washington with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in 1950. While working at Longview Fiber, he was set up on a blind date by mutual friends. After a short engagement, he married Katherine Kelly in 1957 and they raised 4 children.

He worked as an office manager in customer technical services for Pacific Power & Light Co. for 30+ years, serving in Springfield, OR, Kalispell, MT, moving to Beaverton, OR in 1965. He was nicknamed Col. Watt due to his interest in energy conservation. He became a runner in 1965 back in the day when it wasn't fashionable, after a co-worker of the same age died of a heart attack.

He was known as "Mr. ORRC” (Oregon Road Runner's Club) where he served as secretary from '73-'86. He ran 33 marathons and was one of the first race directors of the Portland Marathon when it was held on Sauvie Island in '72-'73. His family assisted at most of the road races in the early years, handing out refreshments, finishing sticks and other tasks. Ken was very detail-oriented and was chided at times in the running community that he knew people by their zip code!

A perpetual volunteer his whole life, Ken believed service was his civic duty. He volunteered for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette as a loaned executive for 12 years, the American Red Cross, served on steering committees for bond issues for Beaverton School District and THPRD, was a Beaverton Education Foundation board member, served on the Washington County Department of Aging & Veteran's Services Advisory Council, Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness & Sports and for the Portland Marathon and Race for the Cure. Ken was an active member of the Washington County Forum and used this opportunity to learn details regarding various community concerns and to get to know political leaders.

Ken was a long time member of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, in Beaverton, serving on the vestry, stewardship committee, as a Sunday school teacher, usher, acolyte, chalice bearer and lay reader. Later in life, Ken was a member of Cedar Hills Baptist Church in Beaverton.

Enlisting in the Air Force during the Korean War, Ken was awarded a Bronze star. As an avid member of the Beaverton American Legion Post 124, he served as volunteer coordinator for the Beaverton/Hillsboro High School Living History Programs, by helping connect veterans of WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars to social studies classes. A proud veteran, he very much enjoyed participating in these programs where students conducted live interviews with veterans. During his participation in living histories, he would take the opportunity to encourage young people about civic responsibilities and remind them about the importance of voting. Ken also participated in the honor guard at Memorial and Veteran’s Day celebrations in Beaverton.

Ken’s first wife Kathie died in 1987, just a few months short of their 30th anniversary. Ken married Diane Hancock in 1998 after being introduced by a mutual friend of Diane’s daughter, Paris and Ken’s daughter, Wendy. He was a loving husband, a proud father and grandfather and he loved his family dearly.

As he became less mobile in his later years, he was not able to do many of the things he loved, but he prayed fervently for his family, friends and community. He will be greatly missed, but we are comforted in knowing we will be reunited some day.

He is survived by his wife, Diane Weidkamp and children: Susan Weidkamp, Wendy (Robert) Hawthorne, and David (Stacy) Weidkamp, stepchildren, Paris Hancock (Kevin Egan) and Scott (Laura) Hancock and 5 grandchildren: Hannah and Isaac Hawthorne, Conor and Nell Egan and Lilly Hancock. His first wife Kathie, son Mark, and sister Kathleen predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held September 15th at 1 pm at Cedar Mill Bible Church on NW Cornell Road in Portland. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, 619 SW 11th Avenue, Unit 100, Portland OR, 97205.