KENNETH JORGEN FRANKLIN

KENNETH JORGEN FRANKLIN
Nov. 11, 1928, to Feb. 19, 2020
Kenneth “Ken” Jorgen Franklin was born in Sheridan, Wyo., on Nov. 11, 1928, to George and Mary Jane (Davis) Franklin. His early years he lived on the family homestead in the Moskee area, walking to a one-room schoolhouse. Due to the Depression, George and Mary sold the family homestead and moved to Newcastle, Wyo., where Ken and his sisters attended and graduated from high school.
Ken start working when he was 8 years old, maintaining excellent grades and also participating in all sports. After graduation, he became a certified engineer by corresponding studies and went to work for the Wyoming Highway Department. After a stint working for the Highway Department, he went to work full-time for the Wyoming Army National Guard, back in the day, as a state employee. 
During his full-time duties, he was sent to Fort Riley, Kan., as the representative to reorganize his battalion for Korea, which they never deployed due to National Guard Bureau continually changing the mission of the unit. While there, he also taught at the Army Personnel School and played basketball on the Fort Riley Basketball team, being coached by Hall of Fame Coach Lt. Moe Iba. He continued working for the Wyoming National Guard in Newcastle until August of 1976, with increasing responsibilities, culminating as the A Battery first sergeant.
Of note, this is the last unit in Wyoming Army National Guard History to receive the Eisenhower Trophy for unit excellence. He transferred to Cheyenne, Wyo., to the state headquarters.
The move proved to be a good one for Ken as he received a promotion to command sergeant major and served as the first command sergeant major for the Command and Control Headquarters in Laramie, Wyo. He ended his full-time career as the Wyoming Army National Guard Senior Enlisted Manager. He retired in November 1988 after 42 years of service to his state and nation. Of note, he was the first of three generations of E-9s in the Wyoming National Guard.
On Feb. 16, 1957, he married Mary Schumacher, formally of Dubuque, Iowa. They had three children, Kenton, Kevin and Karen. After 30 years of marriage, Mary passed away and he
remarried to Peggy Cool of Newcastle on June 6, 1991. The two enjoyed a wonderful blended family.
Ken was an avid and experienced outdoorsman, accomplished competitive rifle shooter, being invited to an Olympic Team Tryout. He was involved in the Newcastle Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball Programs, managing teams and mentoring several young boys into adulthood. He loved and supported Wyoming Athletics. He and his wife Peggy had season football tickets for several years. Ken was also a very proud 4th degree Mason, a member of the Kalif Shrine.
Ken was preceded in death by parents; his first wife Mary (Schumacher) Franklin; sisters, Shirly (Franklin) Carlson and Barbara Franklin; son, Kevin; and daughters, Karen (Franklin) Ayers and Melanie (Cool) McKinley.
Ken is survived by his wife of 30 years, Peggy; her three daughters, Shari (Cool) Bruce, Teena (Cool) Ratts of Newcastle and Tanice (Cool) Slagle of Gillette; son, Don Cool of Gillette, Wyo.; his sister, Georgia (Franklin) Lawrence of Buffalo, Wyo.; son, Kenton in Cheyenne; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. 
Ken always mentioned how lucky he was to have had two incredible wives in his lifetime. Ken will be remembered as a leader, mentor, coach, husband and dad.
A short memorial service will be held on Feb. 29 at the First Methodist
Church, 23 N. Seneca Ave. in Newcastle at 2 p.m. Ken said no flowers; please make a donation instead to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in care of Peggy Franklin, 403 Cascade, Newcastle, WY 82701. Cremation has taken place with Black Hills Funeral of Sturgis.