Kenneth John Quigley

Kenneth John Quigley was born at his aunt’s home in Indianola, Nebraska on July 22, 1929, along with his twin brother, Charles. He passed away after a long illness on Friday, December 17, 2021, at the age of 92.

Ken was raised on a farm north of Indianola, attended a nearby country grammar school and graduated from Indianola High School in 1947. He worked as a supply clerk for the Bureau of Reclamation before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1948 where he served as a radio communications trainer at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois until his honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1952.

Following his military service, Ken worked on his family’s farm until 1954, then began work as a telegrapher and depot agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. His railroad work took him to various locations in the railroad division. From 1966 to 1984, Ken worked in St. Francis, Kansas as a depot agent. After the St. Francis depot closed, he finished his railroad career as a customer service agent for the Burlington Northern Railroad in McCook, Nebraska, retiring in 1991.

Through a friend on the railroad, Ken met the love of his life, Margaret (Manhart), at a dance in Orleans, Nebraska. Ken and Margaret married on December 26, 1955, and welcomed two\ children into their family: Theresa, born in 1957 and Richard, born in 1962. The growing family lived in various locations in Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas before settling in St. Francis, Kansas in 1966.

Upon arriving in St. Francis, Ken embraced community life, becoming active in civic and community volunteer work, serving as St. Francis city treasurer from 1972 through 1989, and president of the board for the St. Francis Senior Center from 2000 through 2019. In addition, as a life-long Roman Catholic, Ken was an active member of the Knights of Columbus for over 60 years. He had many hobbies and interests, including woodworking, crafts, and needle work. His favorite activity, though, was socializing, or as he would say, “visiting”, and he found great joy in visiting with people from all walks of life.

In 2019, Ken moved to Orangevale, California to be near his family. There, he was warmly welcomed by the congregation at Divine Savior Catholic Church, and soon settled into the Almond Heights MBK Senior Living community. American River Hospice aided in his care with kindness and compassion for the last several months of his life.

Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, in 2009. Also preceding him in death were his parents, Ivan and Matilda (Colling) Quigley, brother Jim Quigley, and sisters Bernice (Quigley) Vaughan, and Elizabeth “Betty” (Quigley) Davidson, brothers-in-law Kenneth “Lee” Davidson, Clifford Vaughan, Maynard Wichman, Theodore Moritz, Thomas Manhart, Joseph Manhart, John Manhart, and Eugene Manhart, and sisters-in-law Rosemary “Joy” Manhart, Marie Manhart, Mary Manhart, and Joan Manhart.

Survivors include his children Theresa and Allen Brown of Folsom, CA, Richard and Deanna Quigley of Dardenne Prairie, MO, grandchildren Nicholas, (Julie) and great grandson Joshua Brown of Santa Barbara, CA, Megan Brown of Redwood City, CA, Connor Quigley of Dardenne Prairie, MO, Briana Quigley of Watchung, NJ, brother Charles Quigley and sister-in- law Lois Quigley of McCook, NE, and sisters-in-law Kathryn Moritz of Aurora, NE, and Shelagh Manhart of Loveland, CO.

Funeral services will be held at Divine Savior Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. Interment will be at the St. Francis Cemetery at a later date. Additional details are available at PriceFuneralChapel.com. Arrangements by Price Funeral Chapel in Citrus Heights, CA and Knodel Funeral Home in St. Francis, KS. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations = may be sent in Ken’s name to Divine Savior Catholic Church in Orangevale, CA, the St. Francis Senior Center, or St. Francis Catholic Church.

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