Ken passed away on May 18, 2012 of heart failure. He is survived by his wife Marilyn (Wanke '67) Root, son, Ken, daughter, Kristin Rahe, and grandchildren. Ken lived in Whittier all his 62 years.
I had several classes with Kenny and remember him as being a really nice guy. He never gave anybody trouble. I wish I was more in touch with him after graduation, but as you know, different paths lead to different ends.
Question about his age when he passed, I presume the May date is for 2015. Then he would be ether 64 or 65 when he passed away, right?
He and I with Greg Haserot, Guy Rebentisch, Freddy Padilla and Jay Gatfield to name a few of the boys went to Franklin elementary school together and sadly his life was altered and possibly shortened by tragic events. The first ocurring when we were at Dexter with the death of his sister Marilyn who I beleive was two years older and in her Sophmore year at Whittier was run over and killed by a motorist as she attempted to cross Hadley at the rail road tracks on her way to Whittier High School one morning. The driver was an elderly gentleman in his 80's who claimed he never saw her and that he was blinded by the rising sun.
The second ocurred shortly before his death when his parents in law the Wanke's Whittier house on Orange caught fire, his mother in law died in the fire and his father in law suffered a massive heart attack trying to save her and died.
He was very plesant and became an LA Co Fireman, his wife a register nurse... may he rest in peace.
I am so sorry to hear of Kenny's passing. He was so nice. I was just looking in our annual at the many good pictures of him in the ad section. Everyone liked him. His sister, Marilyn, was my sister's best friend. (My sister is Karen Patterson Land) Marilyn's death devastated my family. We will remember you fondly. Julie Glidewell
Robbie Liefveld
So sorry to hear this.
I had several classes with Kenny and remember him as being a really nice guy. He never gave anybody trouble. I wish I was more in touch with him after graduation, but as you know, different paths lead to different ends.
Question about his age when he passed, I presume the May date is for 2015. Then he would be ether 64 or 65 when he passed away, right?
Michael Shainline
I remember that Kenny drove some kind of muscle car. I think that was his identity in high school. I can't remember what the car was, though.
Gary Arakawa
Hi-
Besides Jonathan Bailey's 'Vette and Richard Melendez's 1968 Camaro SS LT
(although Rich's doesnt' really count because it was his dad's car), Kenny Root
had the baddest car from the Class of '68. I'm almost positive it was a
1966 Chevelle SS; bronze. It would be worth a lot today. He was a very
nice person and treated everyone with respect.
In his memory we pray.
Gary H. Arakawa
Thomas Kelso
He and I with Greg Haserot, Guy Rebentisch, Freddy Padilla and Jay Gatfield to name a few of the boys went to Franklin elementary school together and sadly his life was altered and possibly shortened by tragic events. The first ocurring when we were at Dexter with the death of his sister Marilyn who I beleive was two years older and in her Sophmore year at Whittier was run over and killed by a motorist as she attempted to cross Hadley at the rail road tracks on her way to Whittier High School one morning. The driver was an elderly gentleman in his 80's who claimed he never saw her and that he was blinded by the rising sun.
The second ocurred shortly before his death when his parents in law the Wanke's Whittier house on Orange caught fire, his mother in law died in the fire and his father in law suffered a massive heart attack trying to save her and died.
He was very plesant and became an LA Co Fireman, his wife a register nurse... may he rest in peace.
Joe McCallum
RIP Kenny.I remember him as a good guyRalph Filippo
You''ll be remembered fondly by all of your friends. Rest in peace buddy.
Julia Glidewell (Tuttle)
I am so sorry to hear of Kenny's passing. He was so nice. I was just looking in our annual at the many good pictures of him in the ad section. Everyone liked him.His sister, Marilyn, was my sister's best friend. (My sister is Karen Patterson Land) Marilyn's death devastated my family.
We will remember you fondly. Julie Glidewell