Kenneth John Walz, 60, of Hershey, NE died Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, NE.

Ken was born November 4, 1951, at North Platte to Bernard ‘Bernie’ Henry and Shirley Irene Simants Konruff Walz. The family lived 15 miles north of North Platte and he attended Stapleton School for a year before the family moved southeast of Hershey. Ken then attended Leth School District 122 and graduated from Hershey High School in 1970.

On January 23, 1971, Ken married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Hampton, in Hershey at the United Methodist Church. For the first five years they lived in a little house along the North Platte River before moving into a home they built themselves in 1976. Ken worked for the Dutton-Lainson Company in North Platte and became a self-taught electrician. He then went to work for Schmidt Electric in North Platte for 10 years. During this time he took his State Electrical Test and received his Master’s License in 1985. He then started his own business, Ken’s Electric, with his wife, Pat, until the business closed due to health reasons. Ken most recently worked for Knobel Refrigeration.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Ken enjoyed spending hours in a duck or goose blind and hunting deer along the South Platte River. He was a loving husband, father and papa. Ken possessed an unconditional love for his family and did whatever he could to protect, provide and care for them.

Ken is survived by his wife, Pat, of Hershey; two children, Steven Walz (Sam White), of Denver, CO and Alicia (Lucas) Odean, of North Platte; three grandchildren, Emma, Brady and Alise Odean; his mother, Irene Walz, two brothers, Randy (Sheila) Walz and Rich Walz and a sister, Sherri (Dave) Laubner, all of North Platte; several nieces, nephews and other family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bernie; and his mother and father-in-law, Hannah and Bob Hampton.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 3, 2012, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Jim Novakowski officiating. The memorial book may be signed from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore or online at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the family. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.