December 13, 1947 ~ February 14, 2023
Kenneth Loren Polk, age 75, unexpectedly went home to the Lord on February 14, 2023. He was the beloved husband of Carol A. (Smith) Polk, with whom he shared 50 years of marriage.
Born in Woburn, MA, on December 13, 1947, he was the son of the late Chester L. and Marion (Nichols) Polk and brother to Jeanne (Polk) Warnock, Carolyn (Polk) DelRossi, and Debra (Polk) Ebert. After graduating from Stoneham High School, Ken attended The Wentworth Institute of Engineering, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. He began his career at Stone and Webster Engineering Firm, where he helped design nuclear power plants before working on the Big Dig Project in Boston, and finally at International Family Church, where he wore several hats, including Accountant and Book Keeper as well as Facilities/Grounds Manager. Ken also helped with his son’s music studios, fulfilling whatever role was needed, from bookkeeper to greeting students, fixing and building out both studios, and helping with events. He was a familiar face to all the staff and music families.
Ken was a spiritual man with a servant’s heart and lived his life first for Jesus. It was apparent in the light of his smile; his kind, encouraging words, and the helping hand he would lend to anyone in need. Ken was very active in his church, participating in many outreach ministries over the years. Whether serving food and praying for people at the soup kitchen, going into the community to minister to people, leading bible studies in people’s homes or commuting people to Sunday service on the church bus; Ken spread the Love of Jesus and the Gospel of Christ through acts of service and connecting with people.
If you knew Ken, you knew of his love of tractors, to which he owned two. He was an old farm boy at heart, and you could often find him working on or with them, plowing the driveway or hauling stuff around. He shared his love of tractors with anyone who showed interest, especially the grandkids. After teaching the kids how to drive them and giving them a “driving test”, he would issue the coveted tractor license he would hand make and laminate.
“Grampy,” as he was called by most, loved flannel shirts, gardening, getting his hands dirty, and riding his bicycle. He was a backyard mechanic from a young age and loved to tinker around them. He was a Patriot. He believed in the promise and freedom of America. He was a practical man who lived his life in a simplistic way. Always available to troubleshoot a problem, he believed there was always a solution. He was an outdoors guy and loved the hot weather.
But what meant the most to him was his family. He loved his children and kept a close relationship with all of them, but the apples of his eye were his grand and great-grandchildren. Many weekends were spent teaching them how to build and fix things, including a tree house and zip line in his backyard, going to the trampoline park, riding go-carts, and building fires in the fireplace with them. He would work on his tractors with them. He shared the things he loved with them. Sleepovers were a common occurrence, sometimes having up to 8 of them over for the weekend. It was important for him to spend quality time with them.
Surviving Kenneth are his loving wife, Carol (Smith) Polk and children, Michelle Venuti and her husband George of Lakeville, Leane Scott and her husband William of North Reading and Kenneth Polk and his fiancée Diana DeBenedetto. Ken is also survived by his grandchildren; Joshua Scott, Taela Scott, Derek Scott, Caleigh Venuti, Aubrey Venuti, Nico Venuti, Jayden Polk, James Hoffman and Jacob Hoffman along with his great-grandchildren, Damon Scott and Coral Scott.
Friends and family are invited to call at the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading, on Friday, February 24, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
His Funeral Service will be held on February 25 at International Family Church, 99 Concord St., North Reading at 11 a.m. Please meet at church.
Burial will immediately follow in Wood End Cemetery, Reading.
As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Kenneth’s honor may be made to a charity close to his heart; Angels of Hope, 6401 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek, Fl 33073. Website: FoodForThePoor.org.
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