‘Family man’ dies at 77
By Sara Bruestle
A loving man, Ken Bruestle became more devoted to his family as it grew.
Kenneth Eugene Bruestle died on Oct. 17, 2016, from pneumonia. He was 77.
Ken was born on Oct. 27, 1938, at the family home in St. Paul, Minn., to Lawrence and Inez Bruestle. He was the third of five children.
He graduated from Mechanic Arts High School in 1956, tied for valedictorian of his graduating class. He then attended the University of Minnesota on a four-year scholarship. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1961.
In St. Paul, Ken met his future wife, Dorothy, while they were in eighth grade at Jackson Grade School. He was Dottie’s first kiss when she was 13 years old.
Ken and Dottie were each other’s high school sweethearts. At 16, they were in love and knew they would be together forever.
They were married four years later on March 21, 1959, and together they raised four children.
Ken worked 30 years at Burlington Northern Railroad, designing bridges. While working for the railroad, Ken earned his master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Kansas-Edwards when he was 50 years old.
His career moved the family from St. Paul to Lincoln, Neb., Billings, Mont., Seattle and then to Kansas City, Kan. Ken liked Seattle best of all the cities, so he and Dottie moved back to Washington state in his retirement.
After he retired, Ken worked as an engineering consultant for HNTB Corp. in Bellevue.
Ken will be remembered as intelligent, strong, handsome, generous, witty, loyal, caring and thoughtful.
Ken was a family man. He loved to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He also was a proud owner of two border collies.
He enjoyed reading books, writing letters to the editor, playing classical guitar, walking the dogs and tending to his vegetable garden.
Ken is preceded in death by two brothers, Larry and Dick Bruestle.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dottie Bruestle; sister, Bernice (Wayne) Bestland; brother Don Bruestle; sons Joel (Pam) Bruestle, Kurt (Doris) Bruestle, Gary (Marjan) Bruestle; and daughter Amy Bruestle; as well as eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Barton Family Funeral Service, 11630 Slater Ave. NE Ste. 1A, Kirkland.