John Kenneth (Ken) Mullen
On Thursday, October 23, 2008, long-time Nanaimo resident Ken Mullen left us suddenly to be with Evelyn, his cherished wife of over 50 years.
Ken was born on August 29, 1931 on the family’s homestead near Ethelton, Saskatchewan. He was the youngest of four children born to John Freeman Mullen and Florence Belle Mullen.
Ken moved to Nanaimo with his parents in 1946 where he completed his formal education at John Shaw High School.
On August 29, 1953, Ken married Evelyn Cottle and together they raised two children.
Ken spent over thirty-five years of his working life in the Instrument Department at MacMillan-Bloedel’s Harmac pulp mill, first as a technician and then as a foreman. He retired from Harmac as an Instrument Planner in 1989.
Ken was active coaching an oldtimers hockey team, camping during the summers in the Comox area, fishing for trout and salmon, and, for the last few years, writing books about the trials and tribulations of the old family homestead in Saskatchewan.
Missing him terribly are his daughter Karen (Dave Seccombe) in Ladysmith, son Barry in Vancouver, sisters Helen Hedberg and Florence Hannay both in Nanaimo, Aileen (Ken) Lowres in Vernon, brother-in-law Lawrence Spencer in Vancouver, special neighbour Karin, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, long-time friends, and members of the Mullen’s Mariners hockey team.
Fishing tales, hockey stories, work and life adventures will be exchanged during an informal Celebration of Ken’s Life from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the Royal Canadian Legion hall on East Wellington Road.
Flowers gratefully declined. Donations may be made in Ken’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or to a charity of one’s choice.
Sands - Nanaimo