Ripon
Kenneth E.
Denio
March 26, 1919-February 16, 2012

Kenneth E. Denio passed away Thursday, February 16, 2012, in Ripon, CA. He was born to Hugh and Lela (Hoskins) Denio in Orcutt, CA on March 26, 1919. The family moved to the Bakersfield area
(McKittrick, Woody, RioBravo, and finally
Bakersfield) shortly
thereafter. In 1936 he
started work with the San Joaquin Light and Power Co. (SJL&P), which later
became Pacific Gas and
Electric Co. (PG&E). He chose to serve God in his teenage years and never wavered from that purpose.
Ken was one of the first US Army draftees in
Bakersfield in March 1941. Initially trained at Camp Roberts near Paso Robles for the medical corps, he was transferred to Helena, MT, in 1943. He married Anna Danielson in Walnut Creek, CA, in November 1943. In 1944 he was transferred to Tooele, UT, then to Camp Barkley, TX, for additional basic training
before being shipped to Okinawa with the US Army 381st Station Hospital surgical unit, where he served as Staff Sgt. T3 to the end of WWII. In December 1945 he returned to
Bakersfield with his family to work for PG&E, play softball with local leagues, and to live at the old Denio Ranch on Rosedale Hwy. He and Anna hosted the Christian Convention at that property for 25 years. They valued the privileges and fellowship they had during those years.
Ken served as PG&E’s service representative in Trona and Ridgecrest, CA, for several years, returning to Bakersfield in 1962. He retired from PG&E in 1982, moved to Twain Harte, CA, for a short time, then to
Reno, NV in 1983. Ken and Anna enjoyed traveling to Sweden, Asia, Australia, and throughout the United States with friends during retirement years. Bowling and golf were favorite pastimes. In 2003 they moved to Hughson, CA, and then to the Bethany Home
Society complex in Ripon. Anna passed away in 2008. Ken continued to live at Bethany Home where he was loved by the staff and very appreciative of their kind care. He loved the
occasional outings to the Sierra Nevada, the Bay Area, Bakersfield, and Cayucos for the Rea-Denio Annual Reunions with his cousins.
Ken is survived by three children, Carla (Peter)
Escola of Ripon, Galen
Denio of Poulsbo, WA, and Brenda (Craig) Meinhold of Beverford, VIC, Australia; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren on two continents. Ken was loved, and will be remembered by many for his kind, loving, generous spirit, quick sense of humor, competitiveness, and especially for his faith.
A service will be held at Ripon Deegan Memorial Chapel, 111 Palm Ave.,
Ripon, at 2 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 22. Burial will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, 3700 River Blvd., Bakersfield, CA, at 2 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 23.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Ripon
Wendlena Groen
March 25, 1922 – February 18, 2012

Wendlena “Wendy”, 89, joined her Lord and Savior February 18, 2012. Wendy was born in Ripon,CA to Ralph and Anne Hekman. She was the eleventh of twelve children.
Wendy was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Henry Groen,
daughter Cheryl Haan, brothers, Pete, Walt, Ralf and Martin Hekman, and sisters, Beulah De Vries, Helen Roos, Anne Vander Plaats, Bertha Rylaarsdam and Elsie Krediet.
She is survived by her children, Bill Groen of Manteca and friend Peggie Kaelin; of Ripon, Sandra Magers and husband Joe of Houston,TX; Ron Groen and wife Chris of Allegan, MI; son-in-law Steve Haan and wife Nancy and her children Casey and Dana Johnson of Livermore, CA; grandchildren; Andrea and husband Ryan of San
Diego; Cynthia Castie and husband Tommy of
Taebaek, Korea; Chad Groen of Grand Rapids, MI; Anthony Groen of Denver, CO; Kyle Groen of Allegan, MI; brother Jake Hekman of Grand Rapids, MI; sister Gertrude De Boer and husband Willis of Grand Rapids, MI; and
sister-in-law Gertrude
Hekman of Grand Rapids, MI; Hattie Hansum of Platte, SD; and Sharon Groen of Placerville, CA.
Wendy was known for her award-winning quilts and countless donated
embroidery towels, as well as her Lemon Meringue Pies, Banana Muffins, Oil Crisp Cookies and her beautiful garden of flowers. She will be dearly
remembered by her family for her beautiful prayers and letters. Wendy was a lifetime member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Ripon.
Visitation will be
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Deegan Ripon
Memorial Chapel from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M. Graveside
service will be Friday,
February 24, 2012 at the Ripon Cemetery at 10:00 A.M. followed by a
Memorial Service at 11:00 A.M. at First Christian
Reformed Church in Ripon. For condolences to the
family please visit our
website at www.deeganfuneralchapels.com
Memorial contributions can be made to Salem Christian Home, 6921
Edison Ave., Chino, CA 91710

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Wednesday, February 22, 2012