Kenneth Arthur Joanis died suddenly at home on Friday, June 19th, 2009, after weeks of failing health. He was born on October 13, 1919, in Washburn, WI, to Edmund and Emma (Westen) Joanis. He graduated from Washburn High School in 1937, from U.W. Madison with a Ph B in 1942 and from UW Law School in 1947 with a JD. He served in the Navy from 1942 until 1946; he was commissioned an Ensign at Notre Dame University and became Captain of a sub chaser in New Guinea. He attained the rank of Lt. Senior Grade. On March 13, 1943, he married Ruth Marie Smith in Raleigh, NC. They had two children, a daughter, Mary of Evansville, WI, and a son, George, now deceased. Following graduation he practiced law from 1949 until 1951 and worked for Tri-Clover Machine Company, which later became a division of Ladish Company, Cudahy, WI. He retired in 1984 as a vice president of Ladish in charge of the Tri-Clover Division. In his early years Ken was on the Board of Directors of Wisconsin Public Service Expenditures Survey. He was a supporting member of the Boy Scouts, a member of the Kenosha Manufacturers Assoc. and on the board of the Kenosha Hospital Assoc. In 1985 he was chairman of the United Way Fund Drive. He also served on the committee to bring Carthage College to Kenosha. Ken served Pleasant Prairie on its solid Waste Study and on the Pleasant Prairie Planning Board. He had been a member of the former Kenosha Elks Club, Kenosha Country Club, Parkside 200 and U.W. Alumni Club of Kenosha. Ken was a long time season ticket holder for Badger football and a loyal Packer fan. He enjoyed gardening and fishing. For many years he owned a boat which he took to Florida with him after retirement. For twenty years he spent winters in the Florida Keys. Ken is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Ruth in Kenosha; his daughter, Mary Ann (Steve Kersten) Joanis of Evansville, WI; his special family, Lucian and Wimala Rosa and their children, Dilani and Dilusha, whom he considered his grandchildren; and a brother, William (Helen) Joanis of Naperville, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers George of St. Louis, John of Stevens Point, and Robert of LaCrosse. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, June 22nd, at St. Mary Catholic Church at 12:00 noon. Visitation will be held on Monday at St. Mary Catholic Church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Interment will be private at Roselawn Memorial Park in Monona, WI.Proko Funeral Home & Crematory5111-60th StreetKenosha, WI 53144Phone: (262) 654-3533Visit Ken’s Online Memorial Book at:www.prokofuneralhome.com