Kenneth J. Bertrand

Kenneth J. Bertrand, 81, of Manteno passed away Saturday April 8, 2023, at Beecher Manor Nursing home in Beecher, IL. He was born September 19, 1941, in Irwin, IL the son of Isadore and Nora Mae (Swanson) Bertrand. On November 25, 1961, he married Eloise Gordon at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Manteno. Kenny was a member of St. George Catholic Church in Bourbonnais. He served with the Illinois National Guard. He retired from Ford Motor Company as Superintendent in the areas of production and production control at the Chicago Heights Stamping Plant after 30 years of service. Along with his wife, Kenny was the 2013 Manteno Citizen of the year. He initiated, began, and was a member of the St. Joseph Council #11358 in Manteno. He was a fourth degree of the Bishop McNamara Fourth Degree Assembly in Kankakee. Kenny loved to volunteer for many years in parish and community projects including re-establishment and caretakers of Grotto Park for St Joseph Church, Manteno Veterans Home, St Stanislas Kosta Soup Kitchen in Chicago, area food pantries and clothing distribution helping those in need. He enjoyed watching the Cubs and college baseball and was an adoring papa known for his pre bedtime milkshakes. He is survived by his wife, Eloise Bertrand of Manteno, two sons; Steven (Sharon) Bertrand of Deerfield and Scott (Kristi) Bertrand of Manteno, five grandchildren; Logan, Emma, Lily, Easton, and Braelyn, two brothers; Darrell (Kay) Bertrand of Kentland, IN, and Ray (Karen) Bertrand of Manteno, three sisters; Mary Lou Paquette of Louisville, KY, Linda Blanchette of Manteno, and Denise (Steven) Orth of Manteno, a sister in law, Donna Bertrand, a brother in law Robert (Janice) Gordon, and many nieces and nephews. Kenny is preceded in death by his parents, sister Patricia Salrin, brother Virgil Bertrand and a brother-in-law Raymond Blanchette. Visitation will be held Wednesday April 12, 2023, from 4pm until 8pm at Brown-Jensen Funeral Home in Manteno. A funeral mass will be held Thursday April 13, 2023, at 10:30am at St George Catholic Church in Bourbonnais. Father Dan Belanger will officiate. Burial will be at Blooms Grove Cemetery in Manteno. Memorials may be made to: Fortitude Homeless Shelter Building Fund or Bishop McNamara Catholic High School.