Kenneth R. Ballowe

Kenneth Robert Ballowe Funeral Mass for Kenneth Robert Ballowe, 71, of Grafton, Wisconsin, formerly of Arlington Heights, Illinois, will begin at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 25, 2017, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 N. Ela St., Barrington, IL 60010. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass at 10:00 a.m. Father Michael Sparough, S.J. will officiate. Interment will be private. Ken was born in Chicago to the late Casimira Ballowe (Mordell) and Kenneth F. Ballowe on October 25, 1946. He passed away peacefully after a brief illness, with his wife Linda by his side on November 14, 2017, in Mequon, WI. Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Linda Ballowe (Nestelberger), much-loved step sons, Charles T. Sakowicz (Aubrey) and Andrew C. Sakowicz (Laura), cherished granddaughter, Cheyenne Sakowicz, dear brother Terry Ballowe, special brother-in-law Thomas Nestelberger (Kimbr-Lee), many treasured nieces and nephews, and friends. He attended Holy Innocents Catholic grade school in Chicago and graduated from Lane Tech High School in Chicago in 1964. He served our country in the U.S. Naval Reserves until 1966. Ken had a very long and successful career in the automotive aftermarket, first working as a manufacturers’ sales representative calling on major national accounts and later as sales agency principal and owner in Chicago. In both entities he won numerous sales awards from the manufacturers he represented. He insisted on himself, as well as the people that worked for him, to be thoroughly knowledgeable on each product line, well prepared, and on time for every sales call. That was his own trademark and key to his many successes for the factories he represented. Desiring new and bigger challenges, Ken joined an automotive and industrial lighting manufacturer, CEC Industries, Ltd. of Lincolnshire, Illinois, and became Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He immediately formed a prominent network of sales professionals and inside support personnel that enabled sales to increase during his fifteen years with the company. He retired in 2014. Over his entire career Ken also gave back to the industry that treated him so well by volunteering for industry association committees, including APAA & AAIA (now Auto Care) amongst others. Always wanting to keep busy, even in retirement, he worked part time at Home Depot in Grafton, Wisconsin, sharing his knowledge and enjoying working with many friends. He had a wonderful sense of humor and great knowledge of historical facts and politics. Though he seemed tough, those who knew him know that he was a teddy bear. He enjoyed spending time with his boys, whom he loved as his own. He absolutely treasured his granddaughter, Cheyenne, who stole his heart the minute she was born. Ken and Linda moved from Illinois to Wisconsin in 2015. They spent time together discovering the beautiful places in Wisconsin. There were many things on their list of things to do and discover--they were always planning their next “adventure.” In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Ken’s name to: Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, 420 W. County Line Road, Barrington, IL 60010 or Project Hope-St. Anne-Barrington, 320 Franklin Street, Barrington, IL 60010. Mueller Funeral Home & Crematory in Cedarburg, WI assisted the family.