Ken Karg

Fisherman, outdoor enthusiast, and local amateur historian Ken Karg passed from this earth to his eternal home on January 2nd, 2025. A Spokane native, he was born 12/24/1947. He attended Washington Elementary School and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 1966 and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Botany at Central Washington University (1971) where he met his life-long love Diane Canfield. 

Ken’s life was full of anecdotal stories that he loved to share. He loved his time spent with the National Forest Service working in lookout towers and spotting for fires. He shared many fond memories of his experiences and valued the connections he made with others who had also worked in the lookouts. He became a Washington State park ranger in The Dalles area starting at Maryhill State Park and then at Horsethief State Park. During this time he and Diane had two children Michelle and Chris. 

Later, Ken would serve the state park service at Riverside State Park (Spokane), Chief Timothy State Park (Clarkston), and Lake Chelan State Park (Chelan). Later in life, Ken had said he wished he had spent more time with his family, but we remember times spent fishing, hunting, camping, taking hikes, and exploring back roads in local forests and mountain areas. 

Ken was a National Guardsman. He volunteered for the Boy Scouts and was a member of the Lyle Lions Club. Ken explored and documented local history regarding Chief Garry, early downtown breweries of Spokane in the 1900’s, and the involvement of the Civilian Conservation Corps developed in the 1930’s at Riverside State Park.

Ken is survived by his wife Diane, daughter Michelle (Brandin) and her 4 children, son Chris (Tanya) and his 2 children, brother Rudy (Wanda), sister Carolyn, brother-in-laws Dave (Candie) and Dan (Kelly), and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. His family has requested that in lieu of flowers that donations be provided to the Alzheimer’s Association as this disease often takes away our loved one’s independence, essence of who they once were,and steals away their memories. The family also wants to acknowledge the staff of Devoted Care Adult Home for their kindhearted care of Ken the last several months of his life as well as Horizon Hospice. 

A celebration of life has been planned for 1:30pm on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at Riplinger Funeral Home, 4305 N Division St, Spokane. This event will also be live streamed on the Riplinger Funeral Home Facebook Page for those who cannot attend. The family asks that you come to the celebration in casual clothing in honor of Ken who never really liked having to get dressed up for funerals. We know it would have pleased him.