Kenneth Lee “Ken” Veerkamp

Sept. 27, 1938 — Aug. 24, 2012

Kenneth Lee “Ken” Veerkamp, age 73, of Placerville, Calif., passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 24, 2012, with loved ones by his side. Ken was born Sept. 27, 1938, in Placerville, son of Maurice and Alice (Woodward) Veerkamp. He began driving trucks right out of high school and continued driving them up until he retired in 2007. Many of those years he drove for Reno Zandonella and then for his nephew, Doug Veerkamp. His entire life was spent loving the outdoors, camping, hunting, fishing and riding his mules. Ken was a great cook, famous for his macaroni salad and his ribs. There were days when it was raining and no trucks were going to be driven, and he still got up in the wee hours of the morning to make mounds of amazing Toll House chocolate chip cookies. He had a great sense of humor, and had a no-bull, “John Wayne” sort of attitude. Ken had a rough exterior, but those who knew him loved him for his gentle and kind heart. His ashes have been spread high up in the mountains with other fallen cowboys, in conjunction with the annual Doc Scheiber Memorial Ride.

Ken is survived by his love, Fran White; his four children, Connie (Butch) Mushrush, Kevin (Tanja) Pomeroy, Kelly (Wayne) Ragan and Rena (Tim) Askey; step-son, Bruce Clifton; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his three brothers, Jim, Bruce and Mo; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and some amazing friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Alice Veerkamp; and step-son, Louis Clifton.

Ken was a fourth-generation California native. His great-great-grandparents settled in El Dorado County on Sept. 11, 1852.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on Thursday, Sept. 27, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Green Valley Community Church, 3500 Missouri Flat Road in Placerville, Calif. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Ken Veerkamp’s honor be made to the organization “Freedom in Motion,” which is a therapeutic riding center for disabled children. Their phone number is 760-933-2606, their website is freedominmotiontrc.org.

“There’s a place that I travel when I want to roam, and nobody knows it but me.
The roads don’t go there, and the signs stay home and nobody knows it but me.
It’s far far away and way way afar, It’s over the moon and the sea, and whenever you’re going that’s wherever you are, and nobody knows it but me.”
— Patrick O’Leary