Kenneth Percy Green (9 Oct 1926 - 24 Apr 2017)

Ken is reunited in Heaven with his loving wife Esther who predeceased him on February 5, 2015 after 64 ½ years of devoted marriage. He leaves behind his four heartbroken children, Pete, Dave, Roy and Joyce along with Rose, Sue, Karen and Patrick, and also six adoring grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Ken was born in Coalville, Leicestershire on October 9, 1926 at only 7 months and was not expected to survive the night. He grew up before and during World War II helping his Dad repair telecommunications equipment before beginning his career as an apprentice at Pegson’s, after which he moved on to the position of Chief Engineer at Firth Cleveland Pumps.

Ken and Esther married at Christ Church, Coalville on July 8, 1950, and began their long and happy life together, going on to have Peter, Dave, Roy and Joyce, before moving to Wollaton in the summer of 1966 when Ken secured a position with Rolls Royce & Associates in Derby as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. He remained in this position until his retirement at the age of 65 in 1991.

In later years he was the devoted carer for Esther as she became increasingly unwell. After Esther’s death, Ken sought to make a new, albeit more lonely, life for himself, attending St. Leonard’s Church in Wollaton and meeting a whole new network of cherished friends while being watched over and cared for on a daily basis by Pete & Rose and Roy & Karen (although he would argue that he was watching over and caring for them), and enjoying “holidays” at Chapel-St. Leonard’s with Dave and Sue where he was waited on hand and foot. He also decided he wanted to visit Joyce and husband Patrick in Houston, Texas, which is not a small journey and, in November of 2015, flew out with eldest son Pete where he was delighted to meet all of Patrick’s family and celebrate an All-American Thanksgiving with them.

2016 saw the approach of Ken’s 90th birthday on October 9, which he relished with gusto, planning a party for all friends and family that he had held so dear over his lifetime and was filled with love and appreciation for all of those that attended to help him celebrate achieving nonagenarian status.

He is most famous in his family recently for dancing at the Ceilidh (pronounced “Kayley”) during the evening celebration of his granddaughter, Hannah’s marriage to Jono. He was thrilled to get up to dance and, although, he said he “felt it in his body the next day”, would have got up and danced again in a heartbeat. He also relished his new family nickname of “Ceilidh Ken” and would often chuckle at the memory.

He passed away peacefully and with no pain on Monday, April 24, 2017 after a massive stroke at home on the previous Wednesday. His last memories would have been of just going about his life as normal and we are all so grateful that Pete was with him at that time, and was able to assist him immediately.

Dad, you were one of a kind, leaving an example to all of us of just how a life should be lived. We rejoice in the knowledge that you lived long, did not suffer at the end, and passed knowing that all of your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are alive, healthy, and happy, and will continue in our efforts to live up to the life legacy you left us.

You never said I’m leaving
You never said good-bye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knew why
A million times we’ve needed you,
A million times we’ve cried.
If love alone could’ve saved you,
You never would have died.
In life we loved you dearly,
In death we love you still.
In our hearts you hold a place,
No one else will ever fill.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you didn’t go alone.
Part of us went with you,
The day God took you home