April 14, 1933 ~ May 23, 2026
Kenneth Server, 93, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026, at the Oaks Assisted Care facility in Gilbert, Arizona. Born on April 14, 1933, in Alturas, California, to Ernest and Maude Server, Kenneth lived a life defined by hard work, deep love of family, and a remarkable career that took him across the American West and beyond.
Growing up in Alturas, Kenneth was a gifted and driven young man who excelled on the fields and courts of Modoc High School, competing in football, basketball, and track. He was also an excellent pitcher for a Modoc County baseball team — a passion for athletics that stayed with him throughout his life.
Kenneth went on to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering in 1955. Upon graduation, he was hired by Kennecott Mines in Ruth, Nevada, where he would spend the next 19 years, ultimately serving as Mines Plant Engineer for eight years.
It was in Ely, Nevada, that Kenneth met the love of his life, Helen Strange, on a blind date at the King-Pin Bowladrome in the Summer of 1957. The two married the next year and built a life together that would span 52 wonderful years.
After his time at Kennecott, Kenneth’s expertise and reputation opened doors to new opportunities. He joined Standard Oil to contribute to the development of its Oil Shale project in Northwest Colorado, then moved the family to Boise, Idaho, for a position with Morrison Knudsen. His career continued to evolve with roles at Colowyo Coal in Meeker, Colorado, and later Cyprus Coal, which brought the family to Aurora, Colorado in 1981. In 1988, Kenneth and Helen, along with their three youngest daughters, made another move to London, Kentucky — where Kenneth continued to put his lifelong expertise to work.
Kenneth and Helen made one final move together in 1996 when they moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona after Kenneth had retired. They lived happily together in a nice home until Helen’s passing in 2011.
In retirement, Kenneth stayed incredibly busy. He did thorough research into his family tree and created a detailed memoir. He lovingly created memory books for his wife and seven children. He also transformed his yard through extensive landscaping, constructing several life-sized saguaro cacti from concrete. He competed in the shot put at the Huntsman Senior Games in 2013 and 2018, winning the event for his age group in 2018.
On the week that Helen passed, Kenneth made the decision to accept and follow Jesus Christ as his Savior by being baptized into the Catholic Church. He took on some of Helen’s roles at St Germaine’s Catholic Church in Prescott Valley, attending daily mass and volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul’s food pantry for fourteen years.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Ernest and Maude Server; his devoted wife, Helen; and Kenneth’s three younger siblings.
He is survived by his seven cherished children (Barbara Fisher, Jeffrey, Debra Forrester, James, Karen Renn, Aimee, and Melissa Sunderhaus), fourteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. All who loved him very much.
Kenneth Server was a man of extraordinary character — a devoted husband, a loving father and a gifted, hardworking engineer. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A funeral mass will be held on June 12th, (11 a.m.) at St Germaine’s Catholic Church in Prescott Valley.
