OLIVER KENNETH "KEN" COLE

March 15, 1950 - Aug. 23, 2008
SOUTH BEND - Oliver Kenneth "Ken" Cole, 58, passed away at 12:04 p.m. Saturday, August 23, 2008, in Woodridge Assisted Living, South Bend, having battled heart disease, diabetes and leukemia with much courage and good humor for many years. Known as "Ken" to his family and many friends, he had led a full and enriching life.

He was born to Daniel Carlton and Virginia (McCormick) Cole on March 15, 1950.

He graduated from Adams High School in 1968, and earned associate degrees from both Ivy Tech and I.U.S.B., finishing with a bachelor's degree from Sienna Heights College. Ken was a loving husband to Christine (Stout) Cole, who he married on October 24, 1970. He was a proud and loving father to his sons, Carl (Rebekah) Cole, Jeffery Cole and Michelle Andrews, both of South Bend.

He is survived by his mother, Virginia Burr, and her husband, Bill of Mayflower, AK; his beloved sister, Delana (Mike) Lynch of Collierville, TN; niece, Lori (Bill) Eubank of Nashville, TN; nephew, Mark Lynch of Memphis, TN; brother-in-law to Ronald L. (Floretta) Stout, Barbara (Stout) and Marcel Landuit, Michael and Cathie (Luczynski) Stout; and uncle-in-law to several nieces and nephews and their children.

Ken had worked many places, Dodge Manufacturing in Mishawaka, first in the warehouse and then in the foundry; Mastic Vinyl Siding, finishing in the industrial maintenance dept.; Patterson Dental Distribution, where he was a 3rd shift supervisor; and finally as a contract worker at both Bosch and Whirlpool Lab Technical Center, there Ken worked directly with the Whirlpool engineers in developing and building prototype dishwashers in what he proudly called his dream job, a culmination of all his education and work experience in which he had managed to "reinvent" himself many times.

Ken was an active member of the community. A Boy Scout with the rank of Life, Order of the Arrow, and went on to become Asst. Scout Master for Troop 450. He coached Little League, was a volunteer at the College Football Hall Of Fame, and a member of Sunshine Clubhouse. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America. To send online condolences, please visit Kaniewski.com.