Iron Mountain – Kenneth “Ken” L. Powell, 91, formally of Goodman, Wis. passed away Sunday, December 25, 2016 at Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain.

He was born May 23, 1925 in Antigo, Wis. to the late Newt and Eva (Jones) Powell. Ken attended Antigo schools before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He served our country during WWII from 1943 to 1948. Ken served aboard the battleship U.S.S. West Virginia in the South Pacific Theater. He earned six battle stars for the ship’s engagement in six major operations; the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Surigao Straits, Mindoro, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. The ship was hit Easter Sunday 1945 by a Japanese suicide plane. From Okinawa, the ship went to Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Peace Treaty by Japan, then homeward bound. Ken married Carol Olson on June 30, 1950 in Antigo. They lived in Elton, Wis. where he started out as conservation aide. In 1956 he worked as a forest ranger dispatcher in Antigo and in October of 1958 he transferred to Goodman to become a forest ranger and conservation warden until his retirement in 1986.

He was a member of many boards and organizations including, the Marinette County board, Goodman town board and the Goodman school board, the Union Protestant Church where he served on the church board, and the Martell-Musiaw American Legion Post #325 in Goodman where he served as an adjutant and a finance officer. Ken was also a life member of the Antigo VFW Post #2653 and he also was a founding member of the fire department and rescue squad in the Goodman/Armstrong Creek area.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Carol; one son Bruce (Sharon) Powell, Bradley, Ill.; one daughter Kay (Glen) Meyer, Fence, Wis.; two sisters, Carol O’Meara, Donna LaPage both of Antigo; six grandchildren Nikki, Danielle, Kelli, Cody, Grant, and Cole; four greatgrandchildren Millie, Callie, Mick, Xavier; numerous nieces and nephews; one sister-in-law Connie Powell, Antigo; two brothers-in-law Ralph Kelpsas, Antigo and Lionel Robinson, Bolingbrook, Ill.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers Jim, Cliff, Tom, Gary and John; three sisters Dulcia Robinson, Martha Jane Kelpsas, and Lola Olson; one grandson Justin Powell.

Visitation will be Friday, December 30, 2016 from 10:00am until 12:00pm at the Union Protestant Church, Goodman, Wis. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00pm at the church with Rev. Henry Yoap officiating. Burial will be at Goodman Cemetery, Goodman, Wis. the Martell-Musiaw American Legion Post #325 will accord military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Goodman-Armstrong Creek Fire or to the Goodman-Armstrong Creek Rescue.

You may light a candle in remembrance of Ken or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, to honor Ken’s legacy of life.