Kenneth “Ken” L. Stofflet
Kenneth L. Stofflet will no longer be telling his corny “dad” jokes or giving “Dutch” rubs to his grandkids. He passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison on July 20th, after a long, fulfilling, and generous life.
Born on November 12, 1937 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to Barney and Clara Stofflet, Ken spent his early years fishing in Beaver Dam Lake, playing youth sports and rising early, at age nine and on, to deliver the Milwaukee Sentinel newspapers from his bike.
Ken graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1956, and was an outstanding student, homecoming king, and an all-state football selection, as a lineman. He attended Carroll College {now Carroll University} in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He not only played four years of football, but was a less-than stellar member of the wrestling team, because his scholarship required that he participate in two varsity sports, and wrestling was new to Ken. In 1962, a Master’s Degree in mathematics was earned from UW Madison, where Ken became a PhD candidate in 1969. He was head of the math department at Edgewood College in Madison from ’63-’67.
Ken married Martha Howe on Dec. 23, 1966, in the first ever evening wedding, at St. Joseph Chapel on the Edgewood campus. Getting married at the height of the Christmas season worked out well, since the marriage lasted over 55 years. Ken was a math professor at the University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana from 1969 -1976.
He and Martha and their three young children returned to Madison, where Ken was employed by the State of Wisconsin in computer technology until his retirement in 2002. Ken volunteered at St. Maria Goretti grade school and was a Little League coach on Madison’s west side throughout the 1980’s. He could be seen often fishing from Lake Wingra’s shoreline.
From 2002-2006 Ken and Martha retreated to the north woods of Wisconsin, enjoying life around St. Germain on Little St. Germain Lake, fishing from their pontoon boat, enjoying the deer coming to their feeder, learning to snowshoe, joining a book group in Three Lakes, volunteering on the lakes committee and becoming members of St. Germain Primetimers enjoyable senior group.
After living in Milton, Wisconsin, where Ken was an active volunteer for the Milton Public Library, Ken and Martha moved to Sun Prairie, where Ken thoroughly enjoyed his volunteer duties at the Sun Prairie Public Library’s Read Before Bookstore, and playing his Johnny Cash music while he worked. Ken was a big fan of Cash, having seen him perform at Madison’s Capitol Theater in 1962. He was, also, an avid crossword and jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, as well as a lover of books and book groups. He was a member of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church in Sun Prairie.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Martha, of 55 years, his three children: Jennifer {Scott Pauli}, Sarah {Andre} Powell, and Matt Stofflet {Lani Payette}. He has three grandchildren: Olivia and Samuel Powell and Beatrix Pauli, and one step-grandson Andre Powell Jr. Ken is also survived by his younger brother, Fred {Rosalie}, their two children Ric and Chalee and their children.
Gratitude goes out to Lindsay and Marie from Agrace Hospice, along with nurses Morgan, Olivia, and Dr. Abdullah at St. Mary’s Hospital, and many thanks to St. Mary’s for their kindness and compassion. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 6314 Odana Road, Suite 4, Madison, Wisconsin.
Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home in Sun Prairie is handling the final arrangements. A private family celebration of Ken’s life will be held at a later date.
“Socks up, Boss, we love you dearly.”
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