Ken Ogren passed from this world at his beloved home on Saturday, December 21, 2024 after a year-long battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born in Brooklyn NY and moved to Bainbridge NY at the age of 11. After graduating from high school, he served in the US Navy from October 1961 to March 1969. He was on the commissioning crew of USS Sam Rayburn (SSBN-635) nuclear sub.
He married Patricia Thomas in 1966 and together they raised their children Ginger and Tom. He graduated from the College of William & Mary with a BA in Economics in 1972 and an MBA in 1979. The family moved from Williamsburg to Gloucester in 1976.
After a few years working in the finance department for the city of Williamsburg, Ken began working for Riverside Health System. Although he worked in various capacities for 30+ years, most of that time was as the Senior Vice President of Long-Term Care. While in that role
with Riverside, he became a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators and served a term as president of that organization.
In 1994, Ken married Deborah Kellis Brookman and gained four stepsons, Carl, Shane, Matt, and Blake. They moved from Newport News to Seaford in 2004, exactly 20 years before his death.
After retiring from Riverside, Ken focused on enjoying living on the water in Seaford. He loved entertaining family and friends as head chef and bartender and loved to shoot pool, play golf, and travel to sunny beaches with family and friends. He loved watching his grandchildren grow up. Ken was a loving, charismatic, gregarious, and often stubborn “piece of work.”
Ken was predeceased by his parents Ivar and Jeanne Kelly Ogren, his siblings Ronnie Libbey, Dee Hoffman, Jamie Currie, John Ogren, and Peter Ogren, and his stepson Shane Brookman. He leaves behind his wife Debbie Ogren, children Ginger Kennison (husband Sean) and Tom Ogren, stepsons Carl Brookman (girlfriend Ashley Hughes), Matt Brookman (wife Nikki Howard), Blake Brookman (wife Sophanny), and his grandchildren Parker, Hayden, Coy, and Koa Brookman.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., and the service will follow at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice. Following the ceremony, the family will host a memorial reception at
home at 604 York Point Rd, Seaford VA 23696.
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.
1 Comment
Our sincere condolences to Ginger and Tom as well as all the Ogren family. It is true that Ken was a ‘piece of work’==always pushing the envolop–but a fun time with him.