Kenneth Eugene Lefner

Kenneth Eugene Lefner of Glendale, Oregon passed on January 6, 2017 at Vibra Specialty Hospital in Portland due to complications following heart surgery.

Ken, the 2nd son and 3rd child of Thomas Wilbur and Margaret Mae Gibson Lefner, was born on March 21, 1936 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Ken is survived by wife, Patty; first wife Lauri; son Kent, wife Lisa and their family of Dyer, Indiana and Key West, Florida; daughter Leanne, her husband Robert Staback and their family of Camarillo, California; siblings, Tom Lefner of Long Beach, California, his children, their children and grandchildren; Pauline Lefner Bergeron of Norwalk, California, her son, his wife and children; Vicky Lefner Carpenter of Shady Cove, Oregon, her husband Mike, their children and grandchildren.

This is a large, boisterous, loving and accomplished family. Members of the family are found in the worlds of art, business, education, entertainment, human services, nursing, as well as science and technology.

Ken found his niche in science and technology, earning his degree in engineering at UC Northridge following four years of service in the U.S. Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis. His training and service included aerial photography and nuclear physics.

At nearly 6’4”, Ken was affectionately referred to as The Tall Man by wife, Patty, and friends. Ken was a quiet, contemplative and analytical man with a sly sense of humor.

Before his stroke in 2014, Ken enjoyed travel, gardening, canine rescue, science fiction, Sudoku, and the Oregon property he called Serenity.

Ken’s stroke recovery was remarkable because he put all of his energy into it. Applying tenacity, support of his family and lessons learned while scouting with son Kent, or sharing life experiences with daughter, Leanne, Ken came away with only short term memory loss.

In no small part, the dogs he and Patty adopted contributed to Ken’s stroke recovery. Bonnie Beans, Pepperjack and Doc brought Ken a great measure of calm and comfort.

This family, every man, woman, and child, had every reason to believe recovery from this heart attack and subsequent surgery would be no different.

Cremation held privately at Hull & Hull Funeral Directors, Grants Pass.

The family will gather in Southern California at a date to be determined to celebrate the life of this remarkable man.

And that sly sense of humor solicited a promise made and a promise kept.

Ken’s favorite joke:
Did you hear about the skeleton who walked into the bar and ordered a beer and a mop?