Ken "Kenny" Robert Seibert

Kenneth “Kenny” Robert Seibert, 67, of Manteno, Illinois passed away Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 at Presence St. Mary’s Hospital, in Kankakee. He was born March 11, 1949 in East Liverpool, Ohio, the son of Donald Seibert and Thelma (Welsh) Seibert (both deceased). On July 13, 1975 he married the love of his life, Mary Ann Green in Pontiac, Illinois. Ken was a navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He graduated from East Liverpool High School. Received an Associate’s degree from Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Illinois and completed the electrician apprentice program at Caterpillar Inc. Ken was a maintenance electrician, retiring from Pactiv Corporation in Frankfort, Illinois. He previously worked at Caterpillar in Mossville, Illinois and the Army Arsenal in Wilmington, Illinois. He had a strong work ethic which was evident by his lawn care business for the elderly mobile home community in Manteno. Ken loved working with wood. He enjoyed spending time in his workshop making custom oak furniture for family and friends. Ken was an avid sports fan whose favorite team was The Ohio State Buckeyes. He enjoyed attending OSU football games with his son Andy. Ken had an eclectic taste in music, be it Benny Goodman, Gaither Gospel, or Michael Jackson. Ken loved food, he liked to say “People eat to live, I live to eat”. Known as the “Button Man” for The Compassionate Friends, an international support organization for families who have had a child die, Ken attended 14 consecutive National Conferences making over 25,000 picture buttons of children for families in honor of his deceased daughter, Samantha. Ken lived for his family. He loved to coach both his children’s sports teams. He coached baseball, basketball, soccer, and softball. He never missed any of his children’s extracurricular activities. He enjoyed taking his family on trips throughout the United States; having visited all but two of the continental states with his family. Ken had a strong faith in Christ. He knew he was saved by the blood of Jesus. After his cancer diagnosis one of his main goals was to witness to everyone he came in contact with. Ken was excited to see his daughter Sammy and Grandma Green in heaven. He is survived by his wife of 41 years Mary, son Andy, sister in law Ruth (Greg) Campbell, a niece and nephew, and their families. His daughter Samantha preceded him in death on December 30, 1996 and his mother in law, Mary E. Green on July 11, 1998. Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 10:00am followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00am at First Baptist Church in Manteno, Illinois. Pastor D.R. Abbott officiating. Brown Funeral Home of Manteno is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Kankakee Area Compassionate Friends PO. Box 1282, Bourbonnais, Illinois or Hospice of Kankakee Valley. Sign his guestbook at www.brownfhmanteno.com