Kenneth Dale Semerad passed away August 17th , 2022,
due to complications from Parkinson's disease. He
was born on August 26, 1940, to Edward and Alice
Semerad in Spokane, Washington. He attended St.
Aloysius Elementary and Gonzaga Preparatory High
School graduating in 1958. He attended Gonzaga
University for a time before moving to the Seattle
area to work for Boeing. Ken married Virginia Lea
Boyd in 1966 a few years after enlisting in the
Washington Air National Guard in Spokane. Their
family included twins Michael and Melissa. Ken
worked at Fairchild AFB for 20 years before retiring in
1981. He then established a home contracting
business and later owned and managed Alderwood
Nursery in north Spokane. His gift for woodworking

and love of gardening were enjoyed by his family and
friends that visited he and Virginia's home and
garden. Ken volunteered at the House of Charity for a
time and consistently had a heart for others.

In his later years, he enjoyed traveling with Virginia,
highlighted by two pilgrimages to Lourdes, France,
fishing, watching his grandchildren grow and
compete in youth sports, and was always up for a
round of gin rummy or a Sunday drive. He was
generous with his time and never hesitated to step in
to help when there was a need, and was a wonderful
husband, father, and grandfather. Ken will be lovingly
remembered as a gentle, selfless, faith-filled & hard-
working man with a dry sense of humor who was ever
the gentleman.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his wife
Virginia. He is survived by his children Michael
(LeeAnn) Semerad, Melissa (Rick) Jones, and stepson
John (Dawn) Smith all of Spokane; sister Sandy (Tom)
Cane, brothers Duane (Joan) Semerad of Salt Lake
City, & Keith (Karen) Semerad of Spokane. He is also
survived by his sisters-in-law Mary Smith, Roseanna
Boyd, and brothers-in-law Boyd (Martie) Ditter of
Spokane, and Roger (Wanda) Boyd of Ellensburg. He
has 12 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and
numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like
to extend a heartfelt thanks to his loving caregivers in
his last year and a half of life; Michael Allen, Katrina

Melnikov, and Maria Grebenchuk. We owe you a debt
of unending gratitude for your joy-filled daily care,
gentle humor, and prayers for Ken while he was with
you in your home.

In lieu of flowers, please
direct memorial contributions to the Missionaries of
Charity, 5008 N. Lacey Street, Spokane, WA 99217.