An honor to have known Ken

Ken is my first cousin. I have spent some great times with Ken over the years. Although I am deeply saddened in Ken's passing, I am glad I got to know Ken over the years. Going to ball games, talking on the phone, playing tennis and golf (Ken treated me to a fun round when I came out to visit in '05), Ken always took such and interest in me and my family. Ken had tremendous knowledge of the Mudre family lineage (more than anyone I knew of.) Ken had traveled to the villages in Austria and Slovakia where the Mudre family roots had come from.
Ken took such an interest in Mother Mudre and our family. Ken had such a love for history as well.

I look at Ken as more than a beloved family member; he was also my friend. I can only say that about a handful of family members as very few ever took the time to take interest in myself and our family. I am still very blessed to have known him even as tragic as his passing was.

Ken, may the Lord's light shine upon you both now and forever and we pray now and always that you will be with the Lord forever in peace and love. May your life be an inspiration to all who have known you and bring hope and joy to those around us.

Postcard to Friendship

Fifteen years ago, just after I registered the name of my new business, I received a postcard from Ken Mitchell at the Goodban & Walsh accounting firm offering me one free hour of accounting advice. Needing all the advice I could get, I took him up on it. Little did we know that that little postcard would lead to many years of a delightful friendship. In fact, Ken and I joked about that postcard the last time we saw each other, just a few weeks before he went to Bolivia.

Ken had a zest for life like no one else I have known. He was always reading something interesting, doing something fun or planning that next adventure. His passion for travel inspired me to do more traveling of my own, and to get off the beaten path to see the “real deal.” We had great fun discovering that we had both sat in the same funky Turkish bath in Budapest, beneath an amazing Ottoman dome, although I did it several years after he did. I never would have found that place if it weren’t for his tip. Thank you, Ken. And thanks for taking me to see that old MG that I thought I wanted to buy, even though when I got behind the wheel I couldn’t even steer the thing. You never laughed at me. You thought it was fun that I wanted to try.

Ken sure could get excited about cars! When we went to the Belmont Shore Car Show, he could name the model and year of any car just by looking at its fender. He said he had owned just about every one of those cars at one time or another! When one of my clients at Toyota invited me to tour the Toyota Automotive Museum (a well-hidden gem up in Torrance), I asked Ken to come along. He was like a kid in a candy store. They let us sit in all the old and rare cars, and Ken just loved that. He kept saying, “You can’t do this in other car museums!” He really knew how to appreciate those little special moments in life.

Good for Ken for lapping up life and sharing all he savored with those of us lucky enough to know him. He made a difference by being a caring, genuine guy who always wanted the best for those he cared about. I will sure miss him. Rest in peace, my friend.

Michele Marek
Long Beach, CA

Lunches with Ken at The Bake N Broil

My fondest memory of Ken is having fantastic lunches at Jongewaard's Bake 'n' Broil during the business week. Taking Ken out to lunch was a great way for us to catch up on his love for Cal State Fullerton Basketball, fantastic European trips and his Sunday cruises in his Mazda Miata. Not to mention splurging on a slice of Lemon Lush Pie!
Although Ken and I started our relationship as Business partners, we became great friends over the last four years, and there will always be a very special memory of Ken and I laughing together at The Bake N Broil over a Turkey Cranberry Sandwich and a slice of Lemon Lush Pie.
Cheers to you Ken! The next Slice will be in your memory!
-Allison McDonnel
Ken's Paychex Payroll Sales Rep.

A Treasured Brother...

Ken,

In spite of all the trials and tribulations of your family life during your childhood, you were always true and supportive to your brothers, Glenn, Tom, and Pat, and sister, JoAnn. Like any any siblings, I know you had differences too, but you were always there to lend a hand. I'm especially appreciative of all that you did for Glenn...from putting a roof over his head along with Pat when he moved to California at the age of 14...hmm...that couldn't have been easy when you were only 24 yourself, being by Glenn's side at our wedding, helping Glenn and I finance our first home, standing up as Kayla's Godfather, and being a great uncle to both Julia and Kayla. Not to mention doing our taxes every year! 8-) Damn...now we are going to have even more reason to dislike tax season! Whenever you came to our home or we met you for breakfast or some other occasion, you always provided fun and laughter, or calm and advice when we needed it. And, especially when Glenn needed an older brother, a father figure, a friend...You were there! I'm sure that you still are...but we will miss your smile and hugs. We love you!

A wonderful email from a woman that was part of Ken's bike tour that day...

Unfotunately I can offer little information as I only met Ken on the day, but here is my rememberance of what moments I did share in his company.

Our day started early at 7am and when a role call of names was read out, Ken wondered whether his name had been misread as Ben. When the guide asked him where he came from (to clarify things) Ken replied and became known as 'Ken the American'. It was funny at the time and revealed Ken's sense of fun. This was further reinforced by the fact that he was by far the oldest adventurer that day.

I don't profess to knowing Ken at all well, but I did have the opportunity of chatting with him on several occasions. I too was travelling alone and whilst sharing my choccie bar with Ken (which he very kindly helped me out with!), he chatted about his relatively short trip and his plan to get to Nasca. I asked him how he was finding the day and his face broke into a big smile... although I'm not sure he was such a fan of the couple of uphill bits!!! Ken seemed to enjoy the thrill of the day, on the safer tarmac road at the start of the ride he was giving the younger guys in the group a run for their money!

From an all too brief meeting with Ken his adventurous, fun-loving and friendly nature was evident. The accident was such a shock to all of us in the group and so very sudden. I extend my sympathies once again to you and the rest of his family and friends.

I would also mention just how fast, professional and determined the guides that day were to try and rescue Ken. And it is little consolation, but the area surrounding that road is truly one of the most beautiful and stunning places I have ever experienced.

May Ken rest in peace.

JoAnn Mitchell

Words truly cannot express the pain and sadness I feel over losing Kenny. Even though we didn't always see eye to eye, I still loved him and admired his strength and intelligence. How come he gots the brains in this family? Just kidding of course. He was always there for me when I needed him(which at times was more often than it should have been). I too am still numbed and in disbelief that he is gone. Maybe I don't want to accept that he is gone. I wish to Thank all the warm people who have made such wonderful comments about Ken. He would be grinning!

Ken as a Kid

Wertz & Co. Hall of Fame-Ken Mitchell

Ken Mitchell, a co-worker and friend, passed away April 19th, 2008, as a result of a tragic cycling accident while on vacation in Bolivia.

Ken was a Principal in the firm's Long Beach office and had been with the Wertz & Company team since joining us in January of 2001 as a result of our merger with Goodban and Walsh. He was known for his great work ethic, high integrity and desire to provide quality professional service to his clients.

Ken's love for life, his gregarious manner and his passion for adventure took him to many places throughout the world. Ken's own family described him as an adventurer and a world traveler! He always went without any itinerary and liked to stay in places where he became ingrained in the local communities he was visiting. His last trip was an example of this passion.

We know that Ken's relationship with his clients was of the utmost importance to him and it is our goal to continue this tradition.

I Love My Uncle Kenny

I love my Uncle Kenny. I hope the gates of heaven are open for him. I miss him dearly! He had lots of friends. My favorite thing about Uncle Kenny was his laugh and when he played with me in the backyard. Love, Julia

We Miss You Kenny

I am still in disbelief that Kenny Mitchell has left us. Always a part of our family functions, whether it be at his brother Glenn's home or our home for Thanksgiving, he became embedded in all family functions.
Always a smile on his face, sometimes, leaving you to wonder what the hey he was thinking. Kenny was the glue that held his family together and made sure everyone had what they needed.
A man who enjoyed life to the fullest, but was never frivolous. In all of his travels, he never lived lavishly, he chose to live like the real people in the country he was visiting, to get the true flavor of the life style there.
To all of his brothers, Tom, Pat, Glenn and his sister JoAnn, sister-in-law Denise, (my daughter) and my Granddaughter's Julia & Kayla, along with the extended families, nieces and nephews, my heartfelt condolences. He was loved by so many and we will all miss him. Not realizing the dynamics a person plays in all of our lives, losing Kenny has really brought it all to light. I wish I could sit down with him once again, to let him know how important he was to all of us.

A great guy to chat with

Ken Mitchell was always so interesting to talk to. His love of travel made him so enjoyable to sit down and chat with. When I think of Ken, I can only picture him with big smiling eyes and that big contagious laugh. I always enjoyed seeing Ken at the Mitchell family gatherings and I will truly miss him. From what I knew of Ken, he lived his life according to that handwritten poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson and his life can be an example for many.

I found this poem in Ken's handwriting today...

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Play Ball Uncle Ken!

We loved having Ken over for dinner! He never failed to finish the evening with shooting a few hoops, playing catch, or kicking the soccer ball around with Julia and Kayla in the backyard.

Ken the Godfather

Ken was a terrific Godfather to his neice Kayla! He was always available to give Kayla a push on the swing, play ball in the backyard, wrestle, or share a hug. These are just a few of the many pictures of them together. Kayla and Uncle Ken had already been planning to spend many upcoming summer days swimming in Uncle Ken's pool.