Kenneth Henry Van, age 98 of River Falls, WI, died on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at his home in River Falls. Kenneth was born in Plum City, WI on August 29, 1927 to Henry G. and Effie (Stockwell) Van Schoonhoven. Ken grew up in the Elmwood, WI area and attended school there. In 1945, he enlisted in the Navy. He returned to Elmwood after his discharge, but enlisted in the Army a short time later. While stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA, Ken met Mary Lee Comer of nearby Washington D.C. They married on July 1, 1950 in Maryland. After Kenneth’s discharge from the Army in 1952, the couple moved to River Falls, WI. Ken worked for and retired from Whirlpool Corporation. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings and beloved wife, Mary Lee. He will be missed by his daughter, Penny Van of Hopkins, MN. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 2 pm at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services 805 E Division Street River Falls, WI with visitation from 1-2 pm before the service. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.


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So many great memories of Uncle Ken growing up while visiting “Grandma and Grandpa” Van while I was tucked in Gary’s back pocket! Ken was always fun, and had a joke or a prank to pull on me it seemed like! What a great long and loving life he lived. Glad that he and Grandma Van were able to have a very nice visit not along ago. She told me all about it and shared the picture of the two of them together.
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