Kenneth "Ken" M. Hill
Kenneth Malcolm Hill, 80, of Cook passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2016 at the St. Raphael's Health & Rehabilitation Center in Eveleth. He died as a result of complications from cancer.
Ken was born on June 23, 1935 in South Bend, Indiana, son of Vaino and Hildur (nee Brandt) Hill of Ely and Mt. Iron, respectively. He moved to Virginia in the 9th grade and then to Cook in 10th grade, and remained in the area virtually all of his life. Ken was a 1953 graduate of Cook High School, where he excelled in baseball, basketball, football, and track in high school, and he remained an avid sports fan all of his life. He also graduated as an electronics technician from the Northwestern Television and Electronics Institute in the Twin Cities area in 1964.
Ken worked as a carpenter on numerous sites throughout the region, building or remodeling homes and businesses. He was known as a hard-working high quality carpenter who helped others learn the trade. He was a popular figure in the community, especially for organizing class and family reunions and supporting local sports teams. For 63 years he enjoyed spear fishing from his ice fishing shack on Lake Vermilion.
Ken is survived by his long-time companion and best friend Georgia Cannata of Hibbing- along with her children and grandchildren; Ken's children, Glen (Yoshie) Hill of Obihiro, Japan, Glory (Rocky) King and Greg Hill of Cook, Gennifer (Pat) Krank and Gay Schwindt of Dickinson, ND; grandchildren Kento Hill, Jody (Ray) Hawk, Roxie (Jason) Wefel, James Krank, Megan and Zach Mosbrucker, and Ashton Schwindt; great-grandchildren Shania, Gavin, and Kennedy Esala, Bryanna and Payton Wefel, and Avery Hoesel; and great-great-(twin)granddaughters, Melody and Isabella Esala.
SERVICES: Memorial services will be at 1:00 PM Thursday (March 10th) at Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Rev. Joey "pj" Bailey will be the officiant. The honorary bearers will be: Bud Bystrom, Jim Nelson, Denis Polley, Bryan McDonald, Jim Casey, Alvin Andrews and Mervyn Bergman. A reception in Ken's honor will be at the Cook VFW immediately after the service. Interment will be at a later date in the Cook Community Cemetery. Arrangements are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. To sign the online guest book or to leave a condolence to the family, please visit www.mlakerfuneralhome.com