For five decades, Kenneth A. Lakamp sold the lumber used to build thousands of homes in St. Louis and Jefferson counties. And he did even more to strengthen his community through public service and civic involvement.
Mr. Lakamp died Tuesday, July 3, 2018, in his Fenton home. He was 83.
The St. Louis native worked at Hill-Behan Lumber Co. from 1956 to 2000, primarily managing the Fenton store and selling to contractors.
He also designed and built seven houses of his own that he and his family lived in, three of them in Camelot Gardens, a subdivision he helped develop in High Ridge starting in 1965.
Mr. Lakamp was a life member of the Lions Club and served two terms as president of the Fenton chapter. He received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, an international Lions award for exemplary service to his club and the community.
He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus-Fenton St. Paul’s Council #2440.
Mr. Lakamp won elections to serve on the North Jefferson County Ambulance District Board of Directors from 1980 to 1990.
From 1965 to 1994, he was part-owner of Village Lanes, a 10-lane bowling alley in Fenton, where he was a fixture on the Tuesday evening mixed league.
Mr. Lakamp traveled the world with his wife, visiting more than 30 countries, including England, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Japan, Sweden and Australia.
He leaves his wife of 62 years, Marie; four sons, Kevin (Beth), Robert (Deborah), Patrick (Heather) and Paul (Kim); a sister, Judith Mottert; and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services: Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 6 at Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Road. The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Fenton. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery.
Contributions may be sent to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla., 33073