Obituary of Kenneth Wayne Ogier

Ken Ogier passed away on January 25, 2021, at the age of 78. A longtime disciplined Type I Diabetic, he suffered diabetic ketoacidosis that proved fatal.He was born on January 9, 1943, in Ottumwa, Iowa to George and Frances Ogier. Ken and many lifelong friends graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1961. He excelled in and enjoyed math, art, and shop classes. During and after his high school years, Ken worked for Buretta's Flower and Gift Shop. In addition to the many skills that he learned from it, the job supported his affinity for cars that endured throughout his lifetime. He then joined the United States Air Force, and served as a staff sergeant as a ground radio operator. On July 4, 1964, he married Judy Griffin, a 1962 OHS graduate, at St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church in Ottumwa. Ken and Judy followed his Air Force assignments to Athens, Greece; Austin, Texas; and Grand Forks, North Dakota before returning to Ottumwa to raise their two daughters. Ken began working for John Deere Ottumwa Works, completed his apprenticeship, and enjoyed thirty-six years as a tool and die maker there before his retirement. Ken and his colleagues became close friends, and they maintained contact until his final days. They describe him as an affable guy with an impressive work ethic, affable quiet sense of humor, and insistence on a tidy workspace. He was extremely proud of his career at John Deere and the products that the plant produced with dedication and teamwork.Ken enjoyed his life outside of work as well. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was a dedicated dad to two girls, helping them with homework; teaching them to ride bikes, to drive cars, and to be good friends and productive people; and logging many hours at the wheel as he drove them and their mom to shopping malls. Ken ensured that they had everything they needed to graduate from college and pursue rewarding careers. He also supported his wife in her window covering business, measuring and hanging countless blinds and draperies. Ken enjoyed building and repairing things around their house, maintaining a neat lawn and clean, shiny cars. In fact, extended family formed a standard of assessing car cleanliness, as in, "It's clean�but is it �Kenny Ogier Clean?'".In 2008, Ken and Judy moved permanently to Colorado Springs to enjoy more time with their youngest grandchildren. There, they appreciated the friendship of many people in their neighborhood, at the Briargate YMCA, and in Mass at St. Clare Chapel. They particularly enjoyed trips with friends to Estes Park and their travels to Ireland.Ken deeply mourned the loss of Judy to a lung disease in 2019, as well as his separation from family and friends to protect everyone from COVID-19 in 2020, but enjoyed his new community and care in senior living.His parents preceded him in death in 1993 and 2016; and his in-laws, Maxine and Fred, passed in 1984 and 2005.Ken is survived by his daughters, Cindy of Manassas, Virginia, Stacy and son-in-law, Wes Thurman, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandchildren, Jake in Texas, Alec and Sam in Virginia, Grant, Will, and Claire in Colorado. He is also survived by his sister, Anita (John) Moss in Muscatine, Iowa; and many beloved extended family members and cherished friends. Ken's family hopes that loved ones will continue to distance safely, remembering him by communicating memories and prayers virtually. They look forward to a safer memorial gathering of family and friends in Iowa this summer, when they will bury Ken next to Judy in St. Mary's Cemetery in Albia.In his memory, they ask that you consider a donation to support the work of St. Patrick Catholic Church of Ottumwa: (https://stpatrickottumwa.com/) Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado: (https://careandshare.org/donate/) or the American Diabetes Association: (https://www.diabetes.org/)