Kenneth W. Wisenburn

Kenneth W. Wisenburn, age 82, died unexpectedly Thursday, November 4, 2021, at his home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He was the devoted husband of the late Phyllis B. (Copeland) Wisenburn, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage.

 Born in Springfield, MA, Ken was the son of the late May L. (Davis) Wisenburn and her husband. Ken graduated from Trade High School in Springfield and went on to graduate from the General Electric Apprentice Couse in 1961 (where he made several lifelong friends that he continued to meet up with annually).  From there he attended Boston University and graduated in 1964 with a BS in Engineering Management.  He was employed as a quality control engineer – starting at GE, moving on to the computer industry, and then ending in the medical equipment field at Zoll Medical.

 Ken served in the United States Army Reserves, achieving the rank of Sergeant. He was married at the First Baptist Church of Lynn, MA where he became a member for the rest of his life, and also served as president for several years.

 Ken was a car enthusiast. Over the years, he enjoyed maintaining and repairing all of the family cars himself and passed his knowledge on to his children and grandchildren.  Ken owned a convertible (his pride and joy) for most of his life – first attending rallies with Phyllis, then putting it in storage when they started a family, and finally restoring it decades later.  One of Ken’s happiest days was getting that convertible back on the road.

 Being of German descent, Ken was interested in all things German.  He enjoyed celebrating his wedding anniversary each year at a particular German restaurant.  He also enjoyed singing along to German beer-drinking songs and drinking German beer.  One of his daughters called him Fats, anglicizing the German word for father.  He was pleased to learn that the family name derived from a little village in Germany called Weissenborn.

 Ken was a Parrothead and enjoyed going to Jimmy Buffett concerts.  Impressed with the friendliness of the crowds, he enjoyed tailgating (he made a mean cheeseburger!) and walking around the parking lots to see how people had decorated their cars. One year, he joined in the fun and decked out the family pickup truck in true Buffett fashion, even creating a four foot wooden fin to set on the roof.

 Since 1961, Ken enjoyed summering at the family camp at Balch Lake in East Wakefield, NH, where he fished, sailed a catamaran, took the kids waterskiing and tubing, and lived the simple life.  He also enjoyed watching Patriots and Boston Bruins games, as well as NASCAR racing.

Ken was well loved for being helpful and supportive – such as fixing broken items or offering words of encouragement or support for those in need.

Ken is survived by two daughters, Glenda L. Wisenburn-Burke (and husband Mark Burke) of Brookfield, NH, and Lee A. Wisenburn of Dracut, MA; one son, Bruce A. (and wife Ruth) of South Abington Township, PA; his three grandchildren—Ariana, Isabella, and Andres Wisenburn—also of South Abington Township, PA, and several nieces and nephews.  Ken is predeceased by his brother W. Stanley Wisenburn.

Service Details: Friends and relatives are invited to attend memorial visiting hours for Ken at the Parker Funeral Home, 35 Franklin St. Lynn, MA, on Thursday, Nov. 11, between 2:00 – 5:00 PM.  A short service will be held at the Stone Hedge Cemetery in Wakefield, NH, on Friday, November 12, at 12:00 PM

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