Kenneth Weldon Kilmer of Vienna was born Nov. 29, 1928, at Youngstown, Ohio, a son of Stuart Hinkle and Chloe Viola (Hott) Kilmer, and departed this life at 11:53 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, at his residence near Vienna. He had attained the age of 91 years, 9 months and 9 days.
Ken was united in marriage March 2, 1994, in First Baptist Church, Vienna, to the former Miss Regina Mae Koepke.
He had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and had followed his Lord in baptism. Ken was faithful member of the First Baptist Church, Vienna, after moving here from the state of California. While living in Long Beach, California, he was a member of the Shrine, Masonic Lodge No. 327, A.F. & A.M., and the Order of the Eastern Star and Past Worthy Patron of his chapter. Ken especially enjoyed going to the “coffee shop” with his buddies, traveling, having good food and beverages with family and friends, pie auctions at the Vienna Eagles, and being an avid community supporter.
During his working life, he was a real estate broker in California and an investor in three Century 21 offices located in Los Alamitos, Cypress, and Seal Beach, Calif. Ken founded Kilmer, Wagner, and Wise Paper Supply Company, also in California, and after moving to Vienna, operated Kilmer Printing Company. Always working on one of his projects in the community, he never really retired but continued working as long as his health permitted.
Those left to mourn the passing of Ken include: his wife, Regina, of the home near Vienna; his children, Keith Lawrence Kilmer and wife Roberta Marie and Donald Brian Kilmer and wife Joyce Anne, all of Vienna, Danielle “Dani” Kilmer of Salem, Jacob Austin Kilmer of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Bradley Andrew Kilmer of Vienna; his grandchildren, Kenneth Lawrence Kilmer and wife Cierra, Keith Lawrence Kilmer II, Jackson Lawrence Kilmer, Charlotte Marie Kilmer, Elise Elaine Kilmer, Maxwell Lawrence Kilmer, Angel Lynn Linscott and husband Joshua Ernest, Cynthia Marie Spooner and husband, Cody Wayne Windle, Kevin Joseph Kilmer, Brian Joseph Kilmer and Sierra Mae Kilmer; his great-grandchildren, Zoe Lynn Hawk, Weldon Lawrence Kilmer, Aimee Lorelei Linscott, Elysse Frances Linscott, Audriana Rose DuMont, Ayla Payton Nikas, Charista Grace Linscott, Braelyn Skye Linscott, Jordan Matthew Hatfield, Gavin Wayne Francis Windle and Carson Ray Windle; two nephews, Michael Kilmer and Jeffrey Kilmer; his mother-in-law, Ruby Faye Koepke of Vienna; his brother-in-law, Ronald Joe Koepke and wife Peggy of Iberia; other relatives; and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by one son, Robert Weldon Kilmer, Nov. 18, 2008; his father, Stuart, Aug. 8, 1973; his mother, Chloe, Nov. 4, 1985; his brother, Trevolyn Kilmer, Oct. 12, 1991; and his father-in-law, Richard Arthur Koepke, May 13, 2008.
Funeral services for Mr. Kenneth W. Kilmer were conducted Monday, Sept. 14, in the First Baptist Church, Vienna, with Pastor Michael Hurtgen of Harvest Hill Baptist Church, Strafford, and Rev. John Kerr, Hospice Chaplain, Jefferson City, officiating, under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Vienna.
Immediately following the funeral service for Ken in the church sanctuary, the Kilmer family extended an invitation to all in attendance to share a meal with them in the Baptist Hall located on the lower level of the church.
A private family disposition ceremony for Mr. Kenneth W. Kilmer will be held at the family farm near Vienna. Pallbearers for Mr. Kilmer were Keith Kilmer, Donald Kilmer, Kenneth Kilmer, Jacob Kilmer, Bradley Kilmer and Kevin Kilmer and honorary pallbearers were Jim Pointer, Donald Snodgrass, Richard Christensen, Jim Moreland, Ronald Joe Koepke, Keith Kilmer II, Brian Kilmer, Jackson Kilmer, Michael Kilmer and Jeffrey Kilmer.
Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Kenneth W. Kilmer are suggested by his family to the Thomas Jefferson Division US Naval Sea Cadet Corps with envelopes available at First Baptist Church or in care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box 250, Vienna, Missouri 65582.
Online condolences may be shared with the family of Mr. Kenneth W. Kilmer at www.birminghammartinfunenralhomes.com
