Kenneth Wright Obituary

Ken passed away peacefully at home, in the early morning hours of November 23rd, surrounded by his family. He was born in Greenfield, Iowa to George Austin and Katherine Sipple Wright. He was a graduate of the University of Minnesota (B.A.) and received his Masters of Theology from Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, California. He was married to the former Marilyn Mitchell on September 1, 1956 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a Young Life staff member, he worked in Glendale, California, Wichita, Kansas and St. Paul, Minnesota, serving as Area Director and later as Mid-West Regional Director, before being assigned to national headquarters (Colorado Springs) in 1969. Together Ken and Marilyn had three children: Kerri Wright Platais (Gunars), Lori Lee DiPasquale and K. Mitchell Wright (Julianne); and six grandchildren: Emma Claire and Nicholas W.H. Platais, Madelaina Grace and Amalia Elizabeth DiPasquale, Eleanore Marie and Nathan Mitchell Wright. He is also survived by his brother John D. Wright of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Margaret Hill of Tempe, Arizona and many nieces and nephews who will remember him as their "Program Director." Ken was a loving and caring person. He was also a creative and innovative man who dedicated his life to serving God and others. He established Youth Leadership Graduate School of Youth Ministry, in conjunction with Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota (1967) and later went on to work with Young Life's International Department, focusing on Europe and the Foreign Exchange Student ministry. He loved spending time with his family and friends, playing racquetball at the YMCA, and supporting the Garden of the Gods Rotary Club. A memorial service will be held at St. Michaels the Archangel Episcopal Church, 7400 Tudor Road, at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 1st. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's Church, or Young Life, Ken Wright Memorial Fund, 420 N. Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903, to be used towards camp scholarships for foreign exchange students.