The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Kenneth P. Pederson, Puget Island, died January 3, 2016. Ken was preceded in death by his wife Lou Ann. He is survived by his daughters Ann, of Los Angeles, CA, Jean and his grandson Mark of Glendale, CA, also “daughter” Vicki Gregory, great nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ken was born in Ballard on August 28, 1921. He was a graduate of Ballard High School.

He joined the Coast Guard and was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. After the war he became a merchant marine and sailed the Pacific.

He married Lou Ann January 1, 1949, and they moved to Seattle. After two years in Seattle Ken and Lou Ann moved to Puget Island, where Lou Ann was originally from. It was there they raised their two daughters.

Ken was very active in the community. He was the mail carrier from 1958 until his retirement in the 1980’s. During the fifties and early sixties, he also worked with his father-in-law, Elmer Danielsen, at the Puget Island Telephone Company. He was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Puget Island where he was a Deacon and Choir Director for years. In 1959 Ken became the Fire Chief of the Puget Island Volunteer Fire Department. He was on the school board and in 1968/69 was the president of the school board. Also, during that time he was the photographer for The Wahkiakum County Eagle. He was a member of Pentalpha Lodge - Order of Free Masons and served as worshipful master.

After retirement he and Lou Ann traveled around the United States and finally decided to settle down and winter in Hemet, CA and summer on Puget Island. In later life Ken’s favorite past time was watching the ships go up and down the river. He could tell you what every flag flying on the ship stood for.

There will be a memorial service for both Ken and Lou Ann at 2 p.m. on August 27 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Puget Island. Interment will be at The Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA.