Kenneth Hoxmeier

Kenneth Hoxmeier, devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 19, 2020.

Born October 17, 1946, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Ken was the middle child of five. He attended St. Luke’s Catholic Grade School and graduated from Central High School. Although his father, Simon, died when Ken was only 11, he passed on a love of nature and the outdoors that was to last the rest of Ken’s life. His boyhood was spent on Laurel Street in St. Paul, and the family passed summers at the cabin on Big Marine Lake. It was there that the foundation was laid for a life of strong family values.

After starting the study of Forestry at the University of Minnesota, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 21, attended NCO school, rising to the rank of Sergeant, serving in Germany and becoming a Pershing Missile instructor. Ken finished his degree at Mankato State College and started a 32-year career in parks and recreation, working in both St. Paul and Roseville.

He was a great sportsman, accomplished in fishing, hunting, water skiing, boating, high-performance cars and motorcycles. He found joy in many areas of his life: his boys, his granddaughter, road trips near and far with Marlette, siblings and family gatherings, and his lake home in Scandia.

On April 16, 1977, Ken married Marlette (Nelson) Hoxmeier. In the Vadnais Heights and White Bear Lake area, they raised their two sons, Dr. Nicholas Nelson (Rose Anne) and Dr. Joseph Simon (Erin) and were members at Redeemer Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake. His favorite activity for three years in his early retirement was caring for his granddaughter Allison. The loving bond they created will live on in Allison’s heart.

Ken is survived by his wife, sons and their families, and by his siblings, Helen Kulas, Elizabeth (Paul) Dienhart, William (Judy) Hoxmeier, Theodore (Terry) Hoxmeier; sister-in-law, Katherine (Nelson) Kolb; many nieces and nephews. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law; sister-in-law, Carol Raye Nelson; brothers-in-law, Randy Kolb, Thomas Kulas; nephew, Michael Sharp; niece, Julianna Kolb.

Ken was honorable, honest, trustworthy, creative, loving, insightful...a true man of integrity. He was skilled in fixing and repairing almost anything. If what he needed didn’t exist, he created it.

Ken will be interred with military honors at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on April 16, 2021. Following interment there will be a visitation from 3:00PM - 5:30PM at BRADSHAW, 4600 Greenhaven Drive, White Bear, with a time of sharing at 4:00pm.