It's with profound sadness that we announce that on Friday, May 8, Kenneth LeRoy Sabroff, Jr passed away to a brighter, healthier place.

Ken was born in Madison in 1948, at the same hospital his parents were born. Ken was the middle child of five, but wasn't raised with his siblings - it was later in life he became friends with each of them. The uncanny similarities between Ken and his brother Dale are an argument for nature vs nurture - nature clearly wins. Ken lived in Madison on Van Deusen Street, next to a slew of aunts and uncles, and attended Franklin school until age 9. With the bribe of accordion lessons, he moved to New Glarus to live with his Uncle Sam, Aunt Dorothy, his cousins Pam, Jerry, and Don. After high school, Ken married Shirley Yaun, and had two amazing children Daniel Kenneth and Janet Lea. They have been an endless source of pride to Ken. His next youngest daughter, Allison Holly Sabroff, was his wild child, and his love for Allison was limitless. Ken met Eileen Gerth in November, 1989, and together they enjoyed 31 years of marriage. Their son Carl Thomas, like his brother and sisters, has been an endless source of love, joy, fun, and amazement.

To say Ken loved his children is an understatement.

Second only to his love for his children, was music. He was a life long musician - songwriter, singer, and guitar player. "Just Knockin' Around" may not have made the top twenty on the Billboard charts, but we dare you to find it on You Tube and say it's not the greatest song ever written. Ken performed around Madison and loved playing guitar with friends. Ken worked in broadcast radio for many years in Madison, Maryland, and Las Vegas. He also worked at a bookstore and sold radio in Portage, Wisconsin. Everywhere he worked or lived, he made lifelong friends.

Ken had a deep respect for political involvement, he worked for social equality, and was down right irritated by injustice in the world. He loved reading - his favorite book was The English Patient and his favorite song was My Funny Valentine. He loved watching movies and has seen Apollo 13 and Joe vs The Volcano, very similar movies, a million times each. He would tell you that computers in cars and the declining use of manual transmissions will be the downfall of Western civilization. He was proud of his German heritage and often talked about his many uncles who fought in World War II and played fast pitch softball for Frankie's Tavern on Park Street. He loved his aunts who made the best German food on the planet, especially Aunt Irna. He loved reminiscing of his childhood with his cousins Bev and Dean and Janice and Vicky when they were younger. He was proud to call himself a native Madisonian from Lakeside Street while his high school friends from New Glarus are still present in his life. Ken was an unapologetic classic old school guy.

Ken is survived by his wife Eileen (Gerth) Sabroff; sister Mary Keller; children: Daniel (Amie) Sabroff, Janet (Rich) Breunig, Allison Sabroff (Ramachandra Bonner), Carl Sabroff (Zoe Botes); grandsons: Nathan, Josh, Jared, and Nicholas Breunig; cousin Pam Cox; sister-in-law Carmen Sabroff; brother-in-law Ralph Andruss; and many, many special cousins, neices, and nephews.

Preceeding Ken in death: his parents, Kenneth Sabroff, Sr and Louise (Denruiter) Sabroff, his loving Aunt Irna, his super cool brothers Dale and Tony Sabroff, and equally super cool sister Donna Andrus.

Services will be held on Tuesday, May 19, at Cress Funeral Home, 6021 University Avenue. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of the service at 11:00 am, followed by a luncheon. Final respects will be at Solas Natural Burial Preserve, 6025 Oncken Road, Middleton, for the family at 3:00 pm.

We will be celebrating Ken's life at the Malt House, 2609 E Washington Ave, Madison, on Saturday June 20, at 2:00 pm. Bring your guitars and your stories!

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406