It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Kenneth Raymond (Ken) Ramsey Sr. of Batavia, Illinois on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at the age of 75 years. He was born on March 24, 1948 in Aurora, Illinois to Corrine (née Weber) Murtaugh and Theodore Ramsey.
Ken grew up in the Batavia Highlands in a section of the Geneva School District. He attended elementary school at St. Peter’s Catholic School in Geneva and graduated from Geneva High School in 1966. In 1967, Ken enlisted in the U.S. Army, proudly serving his country until 2008. He was trained in Military Intelligence and was an interrogator and interpreter in the Vietnam War. Ken served with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star Medal, an Army Commendation Medal with Cluster, a Purple Heart and several others as well. He also served at both the Pentagon in the Pentagon Counterintelligence Unit and taught at the Army Intelligence School. He also spoke four additional languages (French, Vietnamese, Spanish and Bulgarian) while serving his country on five of the seven continents. Prior to his retirement from the military, he had his last call to duty during Operation Desert Storm but was not deployed overseas. He attended National Louis University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Behavioral Science and a Masters’ Degree in Theology. Ken was the past Commander of VFW Post 1197. He also served as an Alderman for the City of Batavia for eight years, and he is a past president of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and previous International President of FBI National Academy Associates.
Ken was united in marriage to Margaret (née Adam) Ramsey on May 22, 1971 at St. Joseph Parish in Aurora, Illinois.
Ken was a patrolman for the Batavia Police Department from 1971-1974. Then he was hired at the Kane County Sheriffs’ Office in 1974 where he went on to be elected Kane County Sheriff in 1994, serving three consecutive terms. To date, he is the longest serving Sheriff in Kane County history. After his retirement, Ken decided to follow his lifelong love of his faith and became an ordained deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. After being ordained in 2014, he was assigned to Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia. Despite his many accomplishments and accolades, his true passion in life became anything related to his grandchildren. If he wasn’t spending money spoiling them, he was driving them around town to all sporting or school events or just speeding around in his 2023 stick shift Chevy Convertible Camaro that he insisted he have so he could “enjoy life before I die.” His goal was to teach them all to learn to drive stick shift-he told the girls if they know how to drive stick shift, the boys can’t borrow your car.
He touched many lives in his 75 years, but none more than those of his family who will miss him dearly. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Margaret (née Adam) Ramsey; his children, Andrea (Branden) Gentry of Aurora, Kenneth Ramsey Jr. of Geneva, Laura Heffley of Batavia, and Theresa (Todd) McCrea of Elburn, and his honorary daughter Debbie (née McMinamen) Brady; his 10 grandchildren: Ashleigh, Connor and Dylan Gentry; Abigail Ramsey; Peyton, Grace and Tyler Heffley; and Alana, Hayleigh, and Logan McCrea; his sister, Diana (Roger) Dean of St. Charles, and brother Rick Ramsey of Ft. Meyers, Florida; sister-in-law Mary Anne (Donald) Weber of Wisconsin, sister-in-law Mona Adam of Sugar Grove; brother-in-law John Adam of Aurora; many nieces and nephews, including both his goddaughters Debbie Andras and Jennifer Zitko; and dear friend Virginia Gotsch.
He was preceded in death by a son Thomas Joseph, in infancy; his parents; his in-laws Zita and Eugene Adam; brother-in-law Dave Adam; and sister-in-law Jeanie (née Adam) Walt and brother-in-law Gerry Walt, as well as several aunts and uncles, and a very special Brother in Arms, Irwin (Junior) Gotsch.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 from 4:00PM-8:00PM at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2300 Main St., Batavia, IL 60510. Funeral will be on Thursday, August 24, 2023 at 10:30AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 37W210 Fabyan Pkwy, Geneva, IL 60134.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Many Faces of Moebius Syndrome in honor of his grandson, Dylan Gentry, to Safe Haven Dog Rescue of Elburn, IL; or the charity of your choice.
