“Kenneth Dean Hughes died peacefully Friday, May 1 in River Falls, WI. Ken was born March 10, 1931 in Marshall, Oklahoma to Vera and Lynn Hughes. After graduating from Guthrie Oklahoma High School in 1949, he attended college at Oklahoma A&M. In 1951, he joined the Air Force where he was a gifted aircraft welder and was stationed in England and California during the Korean War. When he returned to the States he worked at the Enid Air Force Base in Oklahoma. Ken then moved to Minnesota in 1958 to be a welder at Wold Chamberlain Air Base at Fort Snelling. This is where he met Marjorie Anne who became the love of his life. They married in 1963 and recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. He was very proud of his 30-year career at Donaldson Company Inc. especially his 15 years as Plant Manager of the Baldwin, WI Manufacturing Plant.

Ken loved his six grandsons and one granddaughter, jazz music, cars of all kinds (real and model), and creating things from scrap metal or other recycled parts. He was a true engineer.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents Vera and Lynn and stepparents, Anne and Buck. Ken is survived by his loving wife, Marjorie; his children Kent (Kyrsten) Hughes of Amery, WI, Megan (Jim) Kerr of River Falls, WI and Brian (Lara) Hughes of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren: Croix, Kincaid, Michael, Joseph, Genevieve, Sam and Benny as well as many friends and relatives. Memorials may be designated in Ken’s name to the River Falls Public Library or Boy Scout Troop 54 of River Falls, WI.

A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9 at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in River Falls, WI with a visitation an hour before the service. There will also be a visitation on Friday, May 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Cashman-Hill Funeral Home in River Falls, WI.

Cashman-Hill Funeral Home & Cremation Service, River Falls, WI., is assisting the family with arrangements.”