Ken McKenzie, 73

Ken McKenzie, of Stevens Point, passed away unexpectedly June 23, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital following a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting. He was 73.

Ken was born Sept. 4, 1952, in Dodgeville, the oldest son and fourth of six children born to Burt and Thelma McKenzie of rural Hollandale. He graduated from Blanchardville High School in 1970.

Ken enjoyed his rural upbringing on a registered Holstein dairy farm and participated in the Up & Over 4-H Club and Blanchardville FFA Chapter, showing cattle at the Iowa and Lafayette county fairs, district and state Holstein shows, and the Wisconsin Junior State Fair.

He later became a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he graduated with a degree in agricultural journalism in 1975. Ken served six years in the U.S. Army Reserve with the Dodgeville-based 389th Engineer Construction Battalion after completing basic training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Ken married Marla Kundert on Sept. 6, 1975, at Blanchardville Lutheran Church (now New Hope Lutheran Church). After temporarily working for the Dodgeville Chronicle, the McKenzies moved to Antioch, Illinois, where Ken began working for Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI). He worked there for the next 18 years, based in Rosemont and Schaumburg, Illinois, and later in Shawano after Morning Glory Farms merged into AMPI. The family made employment-related moves to Crystal Lake, Illinois, and Appleton. Son Derek and daughters Dana and Alicia were born during those years, with Derek and Dana born in Woodstock, Illinois, and Alicia born in Appleton. Ken later used his dairy producer communications experience to join the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board in Madison (now Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin), where he worked for nine years after the family relocated to New Glarus.

The McKenzies later moved to Stevens Point, where Ken worked for the National Association of Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) for seven years before supporting the local chamber of commerce through the Plover Area Business Association until his retirement in April 2019.

Ken enjoyed reading, photography and spectator sports. He was an active member of Stevens Point Toastmasters beginning in 2013, where he became known for his storytelling speeches and sharing life experiences. Throughout his life, Ken loved rock ‘n’ roll music, especially golden oldies. He also loved returning to his roots and spent countless hours during his final years on the fields, pastures, hills and valleys of the McKenzie family’s Sturdy Oak Farm.

He is survived by his wife, Marla, of Stevens Point; son Derek of Somerville, New Jersey; daughters Dana (Fredrik Fredheim) of Stevens Point and Alicia (Brad) Kousek of Muskego; granddaughter Evelyn Kousek; grandson Liam Kousek; siblings Anita Huffman of Monroe, Nancy (Paul) McMahon of Madison, Kathryn (Tom) Kammerude of Blanchardville, Frances (Mike) Breyer of Hortonville, and Gary (Sue) McKenzie of Mount Horeb; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Burt, who died in November 2013, and Thelma, who died in July 2020, and his brother-in-law, Jim Huffman, who died in 2023.

As a youth, Ken was a three-sport athlete and also enjoyed success playing first base during multiple postseason playoff seasons for Blanchardville in the Wisconsin Home Talent Baseball League. He was a lifelong sports fan, cheering for the New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers before also becoming a Milwaukee Brewers fan when the team moved to the National League. After moving to Stevens Point in 2005, Ken and Marla became season ticket holders for the UW-Stevens Point men’s basketball team and attended the Pointers’ NCAA Division III national championship victory in Salem, Virginia, in 2010.

Ken also enjoyed sports writing throughout various periods of his life for the Blanchardville Blade-Atlas, New Glarus Post-Messenger and the online publication Stevens Point City-Times, capturing the energy and excitement that future generations brought to the football field, baseball diamond and gymnasium. He also enjoyed following the careers of local athletes as they advanced to compete at the collegiate and professional levels.

During retirement, Ken reflected on his life through a Storyworth subscription, authoring Ken McKenzie Remembers, a collection of many of his life memories.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3, at Blanchard Hall, 204 S. Main St., Blanchardville.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Ken’s name. A private family burial will be held at a later date at the McKenzie family plot in Middlebury Cemetery in rural Barneveld. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with details to be announced.

Saether Funeral Service of Blanchardville is assisting the family. Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at saetherfuneralservice.com or on the Saether Funeral Service Facebook page.