Kenneth “Ken” Altemeyer, 80, New Haven was called to eternal life on Monday, Jan.12, 2026, at his home following a six-year battle with cancer.
During his battle he was assisted by many doctors, nurses and friends with loving care and acts of kindness for which the family is grateful.
He was born on Nov. 4, 1945, to the late William F. and Amelia (Pehle) Altemeyer in Washington.
Ken attended school in Washington until grade six when his family moved to Belle.
In the summer before he graduated Belle High School, he worked in New Haven, assisting a route driver delivering Pepsi Cola for Hebbeler Bottling Co. After graduation in 1963, Ken moved to New Haven and found employment, first at Hebbeler Bottling Co. and later doing office work at Hawthorne Mfg. which later became Kellwood Corp.
Prior to his graduation he met the love of his life, Betty, while horse back riding on a back road trail at night. They dated until the fall of 1965, and were married at Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Leslie, by Rev. F.J. Zirbel, who confirmed Ken in Christian faith in March of 1964.
Six weeks after their marriage,he left for Fort Gordon, Ga. to enter the training for Military Police with the Missouri National Guard. In the spring of 1966, Ken returned to New Haven and resumed his job at Hawthorne and continued to train with the National Guard on weekends and at summer camp every year. He was honorably discharged in the summer of 1971 at the rank of staff sergeant. By this time the marriage had been blessed with two children, Kent and James.
In the fall of 1971, Ken left Hawthorne and took a job with Barklage Development, an area real estate company and builder of residential homes. He completed several accounting courses by correspondence and in person at East Central College as well. He obtained a real estate brokers license by 1979 when he left Barklage to start his own business. Altemeyer Management and Realty started out in his home on Kiel Lyon Road. In 1981, Ken moved the business to the former Club 100 building east of New Haven on Highway 100, after renovating the building.
His wife Betty joined the business, and they worked side by side until Ken’s health forced him to give up the construction of homes and the real estate sales. He continued to do appraisal work and manage rental property for other people. Ken’s passion was providing affordable homes for young couples and restoring old homes and buildings. Many of his clients are retired and still living in the homes he constructed for them. His motto was “never build a home that you wouldn’t be proud to live in yourself” and “do unto others as you would have then do unto you.”
During his working career Ken found time to assist others by volunteering on various community boards. He served as president of the Franklin County Board of Realtors, as well as volunteering with the Franklin County Division of Aging to assist seniors with the filing of the Circuit Breaker’s program. For a time, he managed the senior housing complex off of Arizona Street in New Haven where he installed a flagpole. Flying the flag was very important to him as he was a patriot.
Heart issues forced Ken to retire at age 62, and he took up cooking for the first time and became proficient at many great desserts as well as main dishes. He also enjoyed making and refinishing furniture, reading, gardening, local history and collecting art and antiques. Ken loved old houses and remodeled both his wife’s grandfather’s house as well as her great-grandfather’s house, both of which they lived in for several years.
He was always ready for good conversation, good food and a glass of wine. Ken especially enjoyed the role of grandpa to his grandson, teaching him about farm life, mowing grass, gardening, making wooden toys for him and just watching him grow.
In September of 2025, he quietly observed 60 years of marriage with his wife Betty at their home while undergoing cancer treatment. Good friends and good neighbors helped make the day special for them.
Ken was preceded in death by parents, William and Amelia; in-laws, William and Mathilde Ohse; son, James K. Altemeyer; grandson, Eli Philip Altemeyer; brother, Bill Altemeyer; sisters-in-law, Doris and Janet Altemeyer; sister, Barbara; and brother-in-law, Don Guese.
He leaves behind to mourn his passing, his wife Betty; son, Kent; grandson, Luke Altemeyer of rural New Haven; brother, Kevin Altemeyer and wife Amy of Germany; brother-in-law, Kenneth Ohse and wife Rose; sisters-in-law, Barbara Gilbert and husband Jerald and Janet Redhage and husband Bernard; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Visitation will be from held from 9 until 11 a.m., on Friday, Jan. 30, followed by funeral services at Trinity Lutheran Church, 9521 Hwy 100, New Haven, with Pastor Andrew Preus officiating.
Memorial contributions suggested to Christ the King Lutheran High School in Franklin County or to the Ken Altemeyer Memorial Scholarship c/o East Central College, P.O. Box 387, Union, MO 63084, (please make checks payable to ECC Foundation) or by visiting https://www.eastcentral.edu/foundation/donation-form and add “for the Ken Altemeyer Memorial Scholarship”
Arrangements entrusted to Sassmann’s Chapel in Belle.
