Kenneth Brian Kelm

1/9/1940 ~ 7/30/2020

Kenneth Brian Kelm passed away from heart failure on July 30, 2020. Ken was born in Urbana, Illinois, on January 9, 1940 to Arnold Waldemar Kelm & Nellie Gaudin Prince Kelm. He grew up as an only child, having lost a younger brother (Denny) to infant death soon after birth. He and his parents lived in Ohio until he was 10 and then Madison, WI for the remainder of his school-age years. He married Sondra Knee in 1961, had three children, and pursued his career with Northwest Airlines. During his 34 years at NWA he flew many sizes of jet airplanes domestically and internationally as far as Bangkok, Seoul, and Tokyo, working his way up to captain of a Boeing 747-400. He retired in January 2000, before which he had already started his 10+ years of "captainship" of a large motorhome, enjoying travelling across the country as much as he was able. Upon retiring, he made his home in the Camano Island and Stanwood, Washington area.

He is preceded in death by his father Arnold Kelm, mother Nellie Kelm, uncle Clarence Knudsen, aunt Phyllis Knudsen, aunt Meta Lauer, and second wife Kay Kendall Kelm (2002). He is survived by children Skyler Kelm (Kristy), Misty Kodama (Mitsu), and Dustin Kelm (Katie); grandchildren Sierra (Joz), Alex, Mackenzie, Hanna, and Anthony; friend and former third wife Cheryl Huyett; and step-children Todd Blair, Jay Blair, Brent Huyett, Bryon Huyett, and Becca Stillman, along with their spouses and children.

A graveside service will be held on August 19th, 2020, at 11:00am for family and friends at Anderson Cemetery in Stanwood, WA,