Kenneth Wayne Van Hoogen, 79, of Elkhorn, WI, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on June 30th, 2023, at Milwaukee VA Medical Center. Born August 9th, 1943, in Waukegan, Il, he was the son Clarence Sr. and Dorothy (nee Welsch) Van Hoogen. He graduated from Waukegan High School and joined the Air Force at 17 years old. While enlisted, he served as an aviation mechanic during Vietnam and was part of the Strategic Air Command. He was always very proud to speak of his time serving his country.

He tried his hand at a number of jobs over the years, including bartending, and painting at the Nuclear Power Plant in Zion, IL. He settled into his later years, running his own business, KVH Pilot Service, escorting heavy loads and wide machinery across the country. He loved to travel and could give directions off the top of his head, from any mile marker, anywhere in the country. He was a personal GPS for his children many times.

Ken loved watching sports, including golf and ice hockey, and he was a lifelong Chicago Bears and Cubs fan. He had a passion for playing the drums and dancing with the ladies. When he was no longer able to do those things, he enjoyed giving the girls at DaVita Dialysis in Lake Geneva, WI a hard time. He always spoke very fondly of them. His most heated arguments usually occurred with the television over a political discussion on FOX News.

Ken is survived by his sister Katsy, daughters Vonda (Frank) Favalora, Tracy (Sal) Caffey, Candice (Richard) Johnson, Kyan (Jason) Miller, Kyle (Cassie) Van Hoogen, Kaitlyn (Tyler) Fuller, 15 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Clarence "Sonny" Van Hoogen Jr, and granddaughter Brittany Van Hoogen.

Per Ken's request, there will be no visitation service, but a short internment will take place at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI, on Monday, July 24th at 3pm, honoring him with a gun salute. A potluck picnic will take place immediately afterwards at Eagle Lake Park for family and friends to gather and celebrate Ken's life. Please bring a dish to pass.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to April and Mackenzie, and all the girls at DaVita Dialysis, for always taking such good care of him and for looking out for him, and to RN Shawn from the VA Hospital for going above and beyond, giving Ken the fantastic care, he deserved in his final days.