Kenneth Neil Zink passed into eternal rest May 23, 2025 at the age of 87. Ken was born to Jess and Jessie Pearl Zink May 6, 1938 in Spokane. He graduated from North Central High School in 1957 where he played basketball and baseball, the baseball team going undefeated his junior year. He would recall his high school years at NC fondly throughout his life.

Anyone who knew Ken would tell you he was always an achiever. He started out at age 12 mowing lawns and delivering newspapers. Later he parked cars with his brother Bill in the garage under the Paulsen Building which their father leased for decades.

As a teenager, Ken spent his summers in Starbuck, Washington where he worked at the Zink General Store, bucked hay bails for shipment to local farmers and harvested peas at night. Ken often shared beautiful memories of spending summers in Starbuck with his grandmother Augusta, his uncles, his cousins and "brother Bill".

After graduating from high school and attending Eastern Washington College, Ken worked for Kaiser Aluminum and later joined the Air Force Reserve.

In 1959, he met Betty Jane Hare who would be the love of his life. They married April 8, 1961 at St. Aloyisius Catholic Church. Shortly after getting married, Ken's job as a Program Developer at General Dynamics took the couple to Abilene, Texas where their first child, Tamara, would be born in 1962.

Soon after Tamara was born, the family moved to Ogden, Utah where Ken attended Weber State University. He was offered a position as an Associate Engineer with Thiokol Chemical Company where he would work on the Minute Man Missile Projects. Ken's diligence and drive continued to create new opportunities for advancement in the defense industry, bringing the family back to the northwest where he would become Production Control Manager for Clare-Pendar.

After moving back to Spokane, Ken and Betty welcomed their second child, Kenny, in 1967. In 1969, Ken's unmatched work ethic continued to pay off when he joined Real Estate Equities as Vice President and General Manager. Five years later, Ken purchased the maintenance arm of the company, building it into one of the largest full- service building maintenance providers in Spokane offering janitorial, landscaping, HVAC maintenance, remodeling, snow removal and engineering services. With over 170 employees, R&N Maintenance serviced Spokane's premier properties including the Spokane International Airport, City Hall, the Courthouse and many of downtown Spokane's most iconic buildings. Always an innovator and looking to grow, Ken eventually expanded his enterprise to include Inland Pool and Spa and All Star Sports which housed Spokane's first batting cages.

When he wasn't working, Ken enjoyed a competitive bowling league, golfing at Manito Country Club, playing cards with friends, and proudly watching Tamara dance and Kenny play golf, baseball, basketball and football. He was also a life-long Zag fan, even before it was cool.

After more than two decades as an entrepreneur serving the Spokane area, Ken sold his businesses to his employees so he and Betty could move closer to Tamara and her family in California. Living in Sacramento for a time, they were able to be involved in their young granddaughters' lives from an early age.

A few years later, Ken and Betty moved back to the northwest to live closer to Kenny and his wife, Vanessa, in Mill Creek, Washington near Seattle. Ken and Betty started a new business called Building Maintenance Specialists which they built into a successful turn-key building maintenance provider serving the greater Seattle area. Well into his 80's, Ken never let up, "planning his work and working his plan." Of his success in business he would say, "I owe everything to God, my wife, luck and a positive attitude."

In 2023, Ken and Betty finally retired and moved back home to be closer to Tamara and Kenny who had both returned to Spokane years before. Living close to Kenny and Tamara the past two years would be a true blessing as they were able to spend a great deal of time together enjoying Zag games and college football, and golfing. Ken would also find great joy in visiting Kenny's springer spaniels who reminded him of his childhood dog, Duke.

Ken was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He leaves behind his cherished wife of 64 years, Betty Jane Zink, his daughter Tamara (Tammy) Zink (Joseph Drumheller), his son, Kenny Zink (Vanessa) and his four amazing grandchildren who affectionately called him Baa: Chantelle Pianetta (Joel Torgeson), Cassandra Pianetta, Emily Zink and Brady Zink. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Jess James and Jessie Pearl Helmick Zink, his brother Bill Zink, his sister-in-law Joan Zink and his golden retriever and loyal companion, Sidney.

Ken will be laid to rest at 12:30pm on June 20, 2025 at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family invites donations to Catholic Charities of Spokane and Gonzaga Preparatory School.