Ken Passow, 77 of Watertown, passed away on October 1, 2026 in Lake Norden.
The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown. Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown and also one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment will be at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans).
Kenneth "Ken" Wayne Passow was born on May 9, 1949 in River Falls, Wisc. to Marvin and Jeanne (Krause) Passow. His family first made their home in Gilmanton, Wisc. When he was three years old, they moved to Alma, Wisc. He attended Harold Grade School and later graduated from Alma High School. Ken continued his education at Bryant & Stratton College in Milwaukee, Wisc., where he earned an associate degree in accounting.
On June 20, 1970, Ken was united in marriage to Jean Kellerman in Oshkosh, Wisc.; Throughout his adult life, Ken called several communities home, including Mondovi, Wisc.; Watertown, S.D.; South Shore, S.D.; and Clark, S.D.
Ken began working life farming alongside his parents before beginning a career in sales and service within the dairy farming industry. He worked as a salesman and service manager specializing in milking equipment, using his firsthand farming experience and knowledge to serve area dairy farmers. Over the years, he was employed by Mondovi Implement, Dakota Dairy and Stockholm Refrigeration. He also worked for Dakota Bodies.
Ken proudly served his country in the United States Army, including one year in Vietnam. His commitment to his fellow veterans continued throughout his life as a member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the American Legion, as well as a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Ken is survived by his wife of over 56 years, Jean; children Michael (Melissa) Passow of Watertown and Kristie (Chris) Stromsness of Clark; four grandchildren, Kendra (Jeremiah) Streckfuss, Layne (Aurora) Stromsness, Morgan (Joe) Reardon and Evan (Londyn Sycks) Stromsness; two great-grandchildren, Imogen Streckfuss and Luella Stromsness, with another great-grandchild on the way; and his siblings, Bonnie Mann of Eau Claire, Wisc., Faye Dinger of Janesville, Wisc. and Geri (Cletus) Wolfe of Lake Elmo, Minn.
