- Kenneth Isadore Kaye, Green Bay, died early Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, at his home after a lingering illness and other health issues. Born in Green Bay on May 31, 1911, to the late John and Katherine (Heesacker) Kaye, "Kek" as he became known to some, was raised on the Northeast side graduating from East High School in mid-year 1928. He declined a baseball scholarship to attend Washington and Jefferson University, choosing instead employment as a sailor on Great Lakes freighters. During WWII he enlisted in the United States Navy, received training at the University of Notre Dame - where he designed and constructed a nautical clock, which remained for years in a campus building used during wartime as a Navy mess hall - before deploying as a Boatswain's mate 1st Class on the U.S.S. Montreal to the South Pacific Theatre. Upon returning to Green Bay postwar, Mr. Kaye became a well-known bartender for a number of establishments including Sharkey's, Harvey's Club and The Packertown Tap, his own business operated on Main Street during the mid '50s. Shortly thereafter, he began employment as a security guard at the Wisconsin State Reformatory from which he retired in 1976. After his retirement he and his late wife, Mary Ann, traveled to all contiguous United States and lived some winters in their home near Bradenton, Florida. Throughout his entire adult life, Mr. Kaye was known to family, neighbors and friends as a creative and dedicated gardener, one who patented though never fully developed various methods and ideas. His bronze summer tan, a result of countless hours spent tending his beloved vegetables, orchards and flower beds became well-known to all near him as did all the tasty and beautiful fruits of his labor. Perhaps of equal interest to Mr. Kaye throughout his life was his appreciation of music, fashion and most all competitive sports and he became somewhat of an unofficial historian of the Green Bay Packers, having followed the franchise closely since an 8-year-old witness to the club's inception in 1919.
He is survived by daughters Diane Paynter and Jeanne Kaye-Renkas and a son Jesse Kaye all of the Green Bay area. He is further survived by grandchildren Bryan Paynter, Beaver Dam; Pamela (Paynter) Schroeder, Crivitz; Gwen (Paynter) Christl, Papillion, NE; Mark Paynter, Appleton; Eric Paynter, Green Bay; Sara (Paynter) Merkel, Indianapolis; Dr. Jonathan Renkas and Christopher Kaye-Renkas both of Chicago, Nathan Renkas, River Falls and Green Bay, Anthony Renkas, East Lansing, Mich., and Green Bay, Collin Renkas, Appleton; Damon Kaye, Palm Springs, Calif.; and Annye Kaye, RN, Green Bay; eight great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Mr. Kaye was preceded in death by the aforementioned Mary Ann (Engleman) Kaye, his wife of 64 years, brother, Harold, Racine and Green Bay; four sisters, all of the Green Bay area; Elvira Larson, Beatrice DeMuth, Delores Eisch and Mildred Williamsen. Two siblings, Bobby and Dorothy, died as infants.
Gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2006, from 9:30 A.M. to 11 A.M. in the Resurrection Chapel at Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral 140 S. Monroe Avenue. Mass of Resurrection 11 A.M. in the church with Msgr. Roy M. Klister officiating. Entombment at Allouez Chapel Mausoleum.
The family wishes to acknowledge and give thanks to the Unity Hospice Staff for all their exceptional support and special gratitude to Ken's nurse Jerry and personal care-giver Mariah.
Hansen Family Funeral
And Cremation Services
1644 Lime Kiln Road
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1911 - 2006 (95 years)
[1] 
Death Record - Civil
