Kenneth Jankowski, 91, of Kenosha, passed away on April 21, 2026, at Hospice Alliance in Kenosha, WI, surrounded by his loving family.
Kenneth was born on December 10, 1934, in Chicago, IL, the son of the late Anthony and Henrietta Jankowski. Growing up in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago, he attended Lane Tech, then transferred to Maine East High School when he moved to Des Plaines, IL, with his family.
Kenneth met Mary Susan Kohl at a church dance where they bobbed for apples and tangoed through the night. They married on August 24, 1957, in Des Plaines, and remained devoted to each other for over 68 years. After graduating from DeVry University in Chicago, Kenneth worked for Sun Electric testing jet engines, then as an engineer for Western Electric (AT&T) for 27 years. While raising a family of three sons with Susan, he also later studied at Elmhurst College in IL, and earned a degree in Economics, “So I’ll always know why we don’t have much money.”
He was proud of his son’s accomplishments; his oldest son Steven, having a career globetrotting as an Infantryman and Paratrooper in the Army, Reserves, and National Guard, along with security and private investigation as a civilian; middle son Edward in a career in art, animation, and art direction; and youngest Anthony in graphic design with a hobby in music. During his time supporting his family in homes in Streamwood and Roselle, IL, he worked on many home and garden improvement and rehab projects, and was skilled in carpentry. A caregiver, he offered his home to his Father, Mother-in-law, and sons when they needed a helping hand. Kenneth was a faithful Catholic and enjoyed playing his double bass and guitar in several church choirs.
His hobbies included a love for music and continuously learning to play new instruments, including piano, guitar, banjo, drums, horns, and the harmonica. He also enjoyed model trains, rehabbing commuter trains at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, IL, and cheered for the Chicago Cubs and Bears. Kenneth loved watching westerns and was a voracious reader of Louis L’Amour. Taking his family across the country on annual camping vacations was one of his and his family’s favorite activities. But most of all, he loved spending time with his friends and family, especially with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Susan Jankowski of Kenosha; children, Steven Jankowski of Montgomery, IL, Edward (Beth) Jankowski of Reno, NV, Anthony Jankowski of Roselle, IL; grandchildren, Johnathan (Amanda) Jankowski, Joshua (Sydney) Jankowski, Ryan (Amy) Jankowski, Adam Jankowski, and Andrew Stevens; also included are his great-grandchildren, Ashleigh, Isaiah and Liam. Kenneth was preceded in death by his daughter, Marie Therese, his parents, and his sister, Dolores.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
