Kenneth D. Walter's Obituary
Kenneth Walter died August 30, 2016 at the age of 72 in Redwood City, CA. Ken was born April 8, 1944 in West Bend, WI and was the beloved son of the late Don and Joyce Walter and Dorothy and Ronnie Elsinger.Devoted husband of Bonnie Walter for 50 years. Beloved father of Chad Walter (Aimee). Adoring grandfather of Rylan and Harper.Also survived by sister, Dianne Schiller; brother, Glen Drinka and predeceased by sister, Peggy Gray and brother, Bobby Molter. Further survived by nieces and nephews, many other loving relatives and a myriad of friends.As Owner/President of Steven Engineering, Inc. for over forty-one years, he and Bonnie grew the business from a small flat in San Francisco to a multi-location company with over one-hundred fifty employees. Ken was a visionary in the distribution industry, regularly setting new precedents in revenue, operations and marketing, which the competition envied.Ken was larger than life, driven by a need for success and always expecting more from himself than anybody could possibly deliver. But he delivered…. in big ways. He was always planning his next big adventure, whether attending a rock concert, athletic event or expanding his business. Laughing, joking, smiling – this is how we remember him. He was known for his generosity, often surprising friends and family with large and small gifts. Ken was fiercely loyal to friends, family, and his extended family, which included most of his employees. He was always supportive and willing to lend a helping hand in times of need.He had a lifelong interest in sports, excelling in track in high school. As an adult, he remained competitive over the years in softball, basketball and especially tennis.Ken had season tickets to the Golden State Warriors longer than anyone. He attended most home games and invited loads of guests to share his passion over the years.He was also an eclectic music lover and has probably attended more concerts than most musicians! Ken had a CD library in the thousands and listened to them all.He will be missed in so many ways by so many people.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, 725 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94304. http://www.lpfch.org/supportlpch
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