Kenneth Karl Wamsat

Kenneth Karl Wamsat was born on December 26, 1929; and he claimed to have never had a birthday cake, only Fruitcake! He died on July 9, 2016 at the age of 86 years, 8 months and 13 days, at Valhaven in Valley, Nebraska. He was born to Paul and Hildegarde (Petersen) Wamsat and grew up in Elkhorn, NE, graduating in 1947. Ken joined and served in the Nebraska National Guard from 1948 to 1951. Ken married Carrol Jean Busekist, his high school sweetheart, on October 22, 1950 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn where they had both been confirmed; Ken on April 18th of 1943, and Carrol in May of 1951. Ken and Carrol were blessed with two sons: Stephen Karl, who died in a farm accident in 1956, and Kevin Scott, who remains a very devoted son. Ken completed “Course Training for Carpenters” and in July of 1951, he was awarded his Journeyman’s Certificate from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Now a member of Local Union 1606 of Omaha, Ken built and plumbed many homes and businesses in the Omaha area. One of the highlights of his building career was the Super 20 Drive-in Theatre in West Dubuque, Iowa. When Ken and Carrol were first married, they lived at the Busekist home place, which is now the Rogers Ridge/Chapel Hill area of Elkhorn. Then Ken moved a house into town and remodeled it. The family then moved to Pruners Farm across from Skyline Golf Course; then to a Red Brick Ranch home on Hwy 31. Ken then built a house in Ginger Woods, in Valley; and then remodeled 2 other houses in Valley. Then on a Sunday afternoon drive in early 2002, Ken and Carrol bought an acreage with a house in Greenwood, NE. With this property, they accumulated a Burgeoning Antique Business, which they kept until 2012, when the couple moved to Marquis Place of Elkhorn. After Carrol’s death, Ken moved to Valhaven in Valley where he received the care and devotion of a loving staff. Ken loved to cook, fish, and tinker on anything broken. If something was in need of parts or pieces, he would scrounge and scrape until the item was back together again. He hauled, packed, fixed and mended his way into Carrol’s auction and antique escapades at Platte Valley Antiques and in the building they built in Greenwood. It was an on-going gathering of “treasures” acquired at sales and auctions all over the region. Ken and Carrol were “regulars” and had many friends and opponents at they went in to “battle” bidding daily and weekly. Ken was known for buying things, and then telling about it after the fact: businesses, houses in need of repair, and large equipment that usually needed fixing. Ken was a “bargain hunting Mr. Fix-it” with a soft heart buried in a gruff, intimidating exterior. Also during this time-frame, Ken had successful businesses running simultaneously in Elkhorn and Valley. Ken’s early construction business included a plumbing shop in the old Town Hall in Elkhorn, with Backhoe work; hardware stores in Elkhorn and Valley and Ken’s Oil Co. in Valley. He retired in 2001, but never really quit working until July 9th, the day he died. Ken loved anything John Wayne and Westerns. His pastimes were spent fixing and working. He was a member of the 1946 – 1947 Winning Basketball team at Elkhorn High School where he also participated in Track and Baseball all 4 years. Ken’s yearbook said, “An Athlete today, yesterday, and forever.” In 1955, he had a 240 high bowling game and a 601 series at Valley Alleys. Ken loved anything Beef ~ he and Carrol kept local – small town restaurants and cafés in business, often 3 times a day, 7 days a week! Ken did not like lazy people, slackers, shoplifters, people who didn’t pay their bills, and of course, fruitcake. His favorite sayings were: “Coffee Time!” “Joyce can handle it…” or “It can be fixed!” Ken was a great businessman, a fair employer, and an extremely hard working employee. He was preceded in death by his parents: Paul and Hildegard and sister, Marion; his wife, Carrol; brother-in-law, Gerald Busekist; son, Stephen; and in-laws: Henry & Marie Busekist. Ken is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Kevin and Sara of Bennington; grandchildren: Kalle Wamsat of Elkhorn and Zach and Amanda Wamsat of Omaha; great granddaughters: Kenley and Sloan; brothers: Virgil (Patty) of Fremont, NE and Richard (Connie) of CA; and many nieces and nephews. Kenneth K.“Kenny” Wamsat, age 86, of Elkhorn, died 7-9-16. Preceded in death by parents Paul and Hildegarde, wife Carrol, son Stephen, and sister Marion Wamsat. Survived by son and daughter-in-law Kevin and Sara of Bennington, grandchildren Kalle Wamsat of Elkhorn and Zach and Amanda Wamsat of Omaha, great granddaughters Kenley and Sloan, brothers Virgil ( Patty) of Fremont, NE, Richard (Connie) of CA, many nieces and nephews. Funeral service 10 AM Thursday at the funeral home in Elkhorn with visitation one hour prior to service time. Interment Prospect Hill Cemetery, Elkhorn. Memorials to the family to be used for the activities department at Golden Living Center, Valhaven.

Kenneth Karl Wamsat

December 26, 1929 - July 9, 2016