Mr. Kenneth C. Techau, 87, founder of Ken’s New Market that today operates three stores in Kentucky, died Sunday at Baptist Health in Lexington. He was 87.
Born in Round Lake, Minn., on March 15, 1926, to the late George and Alma Schmidt Techau, Mr. Techau was a member of Daybreak Community Church in Lexington and a U.S. Navy World War II veteran.
In 1979 Mr. Techau founded Ken’s New Market and owned stores in Paris, Cynthiana and Flemingsburg, Ky.; he later opened Save-A-Lot stores in Cynthiana, Flemingsburg and Cincinnati. He was an employee of Supervalu for 25 years and served as division president in Fargo, N.D., and Xenia, Ohio. Mr. Techau was former chairman of the National Grocers Association and Kentucky Grocers Association (KGA) and was a recipient of the Kentucky Grocer of the Year Award.
Ted Mason, executive director of the KGA, calls Mr. Techau a “great grocery man.”
In addition to his parents, Mr. Techau was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Sanna Kruger Techau; three brothers, Al Techau, Vic Techau and Don Techau; two sisters, Verna Rosendahl and Lou Wheldon; and a granddaughter, Diana Jordan Techau. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Joyce Techau; five sons, David (Jaiia) Techau of Australia, Kendall (Mary) Techau of Waterville, Iowa, Joel (Nancy) Techau of Paris, Jason (Nikki Crump) Techau of Paris and Neal (Stephanie) Techau of Cynthiana; a daughter, Susan (Mike) Burdock of Tulsa, Okla.; a sister, Glenda (Jerry) Beck of Spicer, Minn.; 13 grandchildren, Mia Techau, Lauren (DJ Phillips) Burdock, Sarah (Seth) Quale, Molly (Graham) Crouch, Sam Techau, Shanda (Jason) Jacobson, Jared Techau, Davis Techau, Justin Techau, Kensi (Evan) Duszynski, Taylor Techau, Ashlyn Techau and Lahni Techau; seven great-grandchildren, Alison Quale, Tessa Quale, Max Quale, Clara Quale, Maddox Crouch, Henry Crouch and Harper Crouch; two stepsons, Charles Bullock and Van Bullock, both of Evansville, Ind.; three stepdaughters, Lynn Hipsher of Mt. Carmel, Ill., and Lea Ann Boyles and Kim Howlett, both of Evansville, Ind.; and nine step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from noon-2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. at Ware Funeral Home in Cynthiana. Memorial contributions can be made to Harrison County Food Pantry, ℅ Margaret Watson, 204 Shimfessel Ct., Cynthiana, KY 41031.
