Charles "Ken" Spencer

Charles Kendall “Ken” Spencer, 86, of Fairway, Kansas passed away on April 23, 2023.  A visitation will be held 3:00-5:00 pm on Friday, April 28, 2023, at the Amos Family Funeral Home in Shawnee, KS.

Ken was born on December 22, 1936, to Dan and Marjorie Spencer in Junction City, KS. He was active in music, academics, and sports, culminating as a Kansas All-State quarterback and par golfer. He played football as a freshman at the University of Kansas until a knee injury ended his football days. While at KU, Ken was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity where he made lifelong friends.

At the beginning of his sophomore year at KU, he went on a blind date and met the love of his life in Jeanette Hallman. Married in 1960, they were wed for more than 63 years and were blessed with 4 children.

Ken and Jeanette both proudly graduated from the University of Kansas. Ken then took great satisfaction in serving his country as a United States Marine. Following his military service, Ken found his career calling in sales, a skill he had learned by working as a youth at his dad’s fine clothing store for men. Ken built a successful career, ultimately owning a stock brokerage firm. He was always intrigued by the financial market.

Ken and Jeanette settled in Fairway to raise their family. Ken provided a very comfortable life for his family to include their adventures at Homestead Country Club and loads of activities and opportunities for the kids. He and Jeanette were determined to provide a college education for their children, who all graduated from the University of Kansas, too. Ken went to hundreds of youth sports competitions, especially swim and dive meets to watch his kids and grandkids.

Ken was a “dapper dan”—his version of casual was a pair of loafers without socks. He was known for his unfailingly polite manners, fabulous dancing skills, and the ability to regale his kids at the dinner table with funny stories. He could imitate anyone, and his kids never tired of his storytelling. He loved grilling outside for his family, laughing alongside his kids while watching Saturday morning cartoons, and going for Sunday drives with his family. The yellow convertible that he bought for Jeanette was a family favorite vehicle. In his retirement years, Ken took a very active role in his grandchildren’s lives, getting them off to school for years so their moms could get to work. He was also a voracious reader, amassing a library of books too numerous to count. In his later years, Ken was active in the Marine Corps League.

Ken was a softie for animals, beginning with his beloved childhood dog Skipper and continuing through the years with a menagerie of his kids’ dogs, cats, and even hamsters and mice. He used to tease that he only wanted to go to heaven if he could be reunited with his pets.

Ken was predeceased by his parents and his older brother Dan, Jr. He is survived by his wife Jeanette; his son Ben (Deb) Spencer; his daughters Leslee Spencer, Marjorie (Jackson) Sherard, and Sarah Reaves; his grandchildren Spencer, Dana, Lana, Jack; and great grandchildren Scout and Sage.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Ken’s honor to the Marine Corps League/Simpson Hoggatt #984 Chapter or online by CLICKING HERE .