Kenneth Harold Schlichtemeier was born on November 7, 1931 in Crete, Nebraska. It was there that Ken began to learn the value of hard work and determination from spending countless hours contributing to the livelihood and success of the family farm. Ken always enjoyed describing how the demands of life on the farm enabled him to learn to drive the tractor and family truck at the age of four. Ken, along with his sister Eleanor and brother Ronnie, developed many cherished memories of working hard in the fields, riding their favorite horse, and playing cards as a family.

Ken walked four miles each day to his elementary and high school classes. Ken often explained that this walking as a child took the pleasure out of any leisurely walks as an adult and instead increased his joy of being behind the wheel of his car driving to church, work, or family vacations. 

Ken made an important life decision as he began 9^th grade where the students were funneled into two potential career tracks. He initially had planned to bring a pig from his farm to show as part of a school project associated with the Future Farming Association (FFA) track. However, at the last moment, he decided to leave the pig at home and instead declare to school officials that he was going to dedicate his studies in the college preparatory track.  

Ken went on to excel in math and science which opened the door for him to pursue electrical engineering at the University of Nebraska. It was during his college years that his fortune was solidified when he met Maryann Farley in a park in Crete. Ken and Maryann were married in 1955, and they enjoyed raising two sons, Kent and David, during their 63 years of marriage, until Maryann passed away in 2018 from pancreatic cancer.  

Ken served in the Iowa/Nebraska International Guard for 20 months in Bangor, Maine, and Alexandra, Louisiana, from 1951-53. After graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1955, Ken began his career as an engineer at Farnsworth Electronics Company in Ft. Wayne, IN. Ken and Maryann and two sons moved to Denver in 1959, where he worked as an electrical engineer for Hathaway Instruments, Stearns Rogers, and then at Martin Marietta from 1963 until he retired in 1993. In their retirement, Ken and Maryann enjoyed serving as ushers for the Colorado Rockies and traveling to timeshare vacation spots throughout the Southwest. 

Ken moved to the Wind Crest Senior Living Community in 2020, following Maryann’s death, where he enjoyed meeting many wonderful new friends while playing bridge, pool, and dancing. Ken was committed to his daily exercise regimen to help maintain his strong health until just weeks before his death. Ken’s keen engineering mindset was ever-present throughout his life as he enjoyed playing sudoku, learning the ins and outs of computers and smartphones, and keeping meticulous records of finances, investments, and sermon notes. Ken found great happiness throughout his adult years enjoying regular “Happy Hours” with an old-fashioned, peanuts, and good conversations with family and friends.      

Ken’s legacy is centered on his unwavering belief in Jesus Christ and dedicated membership and service in Lutheran churches and schools. Ken served as a Sunday School teacher, elder, school board member, usher, Scripture reader, and trustee at University Hills Lutheran and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran. Ken was a generous supporter of Lutheran education at Denver Lutheran High School, Lutheran High School in Parker, and Concordia Universities in Seward, NE, and Irvine, CA. Ken was a strong example to his family and all who knew him of the importance of placing the Lord at the center of our lives and serving Him with humility. 

Ken transitioned to Heaven on August 15, 2026, after the effects of congestive heart failure were magnified following a fall on July 13. It was a blessing that Ken passed very peacefully, with Kent and Kent's daughter, Kayla, at his side and David on the phone with him, in Littleton Adventist Hospital. Ken is survived by his older son, Kent, and wife, Cindy, and two grandchildren, Aaron and Kayla; his younger son, David and two grandchildren, Brett (wife Samantha) and Amie; and his great-grandson, Peter. We thank God for the life of Ken Schlichtemeier and know the Lord greeted him with open arms with the following words: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” 

The funeral service for Ken is Saturday, November 7, 10am, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 7691 S. University Blvd., Centennial, CO 80122.

Memorials may be designated for:

Shepherd of the Hills, general fund: ShepherdHillsChurch.org/give

or

Lutheran High School, Parker: lhsparker.org/donate