Kenneth Alfred Ess, 98, died peacefully with family around him on Dec. 10 at Whitefish at the Lakes in Cross Lake, Minn.

"Kenny" was born the youngest of a brother and two sisters on August 27, 1927, in St. Bonifacius, Minn. Kenny spent his early life hunting and fishing in the area surrounding the Twin Cities, and lettered in high school football and baseball. He enlisted in the Merchant Marines at 17, went through boot camp and boarded ships carrying war supplies to countries in Africa and France and Italy. Kenny ended his tour of duty in 1946. In 1951, Kenny enlisted with the Air Force in response to the Korean Conflict and was stationed at Tempelhof Air Force Base, in Berlin Germany.

Kenny began dating childhood friend Annabelle Logelin, when he was 19. They were married May 28, 1949, and began raising a family of five. The Ess family moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Biloxi, Miss. and Moorhead, Minn. where he worked as an air traffic controller. In 1968 Kenny and Annabelle purchased a 112-acre farm near Lake Park, Minn. and lived there until the 1980s. Kenny retired in 1977 and followed his passions of fishing, hunting, trapping, building ornate cabinetry from oak trees on the farm. He and Annabelle bought land and built new homes in Emily and at Breezy Point. In addition to their building pursuits, Kenny and Annabelle made more than 30 road trips to Alaska to visit Charlie, Christopher, Ann Marie and her husband, Robert Michaelson and Matthew and Linda Ess. Kenny worked as a commercial fisherman in the halibut, sablefish, herring and salmon fisheries with Christopher in the 1980s. In his time at Whitefish at the Lakes Kenny painted many pictures with acrylics.

Kenny is survived by Annabelle, his sons Charlie, Christopher, Matthew, and daughters Elizabeth Olson and Ann Marie Michaelson. Kenny is also survived by 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Kenny's wishes are for cash, gifts or other donations to be sent to Cross Lakes Food Shelf.

Funeral mass will be held on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 12PM at Immaculate Heart Cross Lake. Friends can greet the family at the church at 11AM. Interment will be in the Saint Bonifacius Catholic Church Cemetery. Kenny's wishes are for cash, gifts or other donations to be sent to Cross Lakes Food Shelf.