Kenneth "Ken" Wilmer Ihrke

Kenneth “Ken” Wilmer Ihrke, age 82, of Walker, MN made his journey home on October 2, 2023. Ken was born October 18, 1940, to Edith (Mc Dougall) and Wilmer Ihrke in Dover Township, MN.

Ken was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, gardening, and John Deere tractors. Some of Ken’s passions included fishing trips to Canada, watching Vikings games, feeding the deer in his yard, and restoring John Deere Tractors.

At age 20, August 30, 1960, Ken enlisted in the Army National Guard of Minnesota where he served as a radio mechanic. Ken was honorably discharged 6 years later, August 29, 1966. At age 21, July 1, 1961, Ken Married Kathleen “Kathy” McMahan in Eyota, MN and shortly after they began their family. Ken farmed and had various jobs in the Dover-Eyota area until he and Kathy moved their family to Silver Bay, MN where Ken worked at Reserve Mining. When Reserve Mining shut down Ken and Kathy moved their family to Walker, MN and purchased City Sanitary Services. Ken and Kathy owned and operated City Sanitary Services until Ken retired and sold the business to their son, Dan. Ken is survived by sons, Donald (Donna) of Richmond, MN; Daniel (Michelle) of Laporte, MN; Chad (Candace) of Walker, MN; daughter, Julie Ihrke of Alturas, CA; son-in-law, Dave Krause of Chippewa Falls, WI; sister, Patricia (Denny) Jacobson of Eyota, MN; special friend, Linda Smith of Grand Rapids, MN; 23 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy; parents, Edith and Wilmer Ihrke; mother and father-in-law, Marie and Harold McMahan; sister, Maxine Vrieze; daughter, Korrine “Korrie” Krause; and son, William “Bill” Ihrke.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation two hours before, all to be held at Northern Peace Funeral Home in Walker, MN. Ken’s pall bearers are Don Ihrke, Dan Ihrke, Chad Ihrke, Dave Krause, Shannon Ihrke, Parker VanLith, Jeremy Ihrke, Taylor Ihrke, William Morris, and Casey Robideaux. Pastor Mark Widman will be officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Walker, MN.

Ken’s family would like to say a special “Thank you” to Assumption Community-Asher Haus staff for providing immaculate care for Ken during his stay. Ken often referred to his stay as “feeling as if he were on a cruise and the staff were just like waitresses catering to him.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Wounded Warriors Project in Ken’s honor, as he was a proud supporter of them.

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