Kenneth Martin Pierzina, Sr. died in Apple Valley on Jan. 26, 2013 at age 84.
Born on Oct. 8, 1928 to Inga and John Pierzina in Beach, ND, he was a resident of Lucerne Valley since 1995. As a young man, Ken worked in the timber and logging industry in Oregon. Later, he was a co-owner of Treon Steel Fabricators and Teron Engineering Corporation in Fontana.
Pierzina was a charter member of the Fontana Police Department’s volunteer program that developed the first Citizen’s Patrol to assist police and sheriff departments.
According to friends and family, he was very talented mechanically, loved challenges and could repair just about anything correctly. He was a worker and no job was too big or too small.
Pierzina believed in people and loved helping people and bringing friends to the Lord.
Pierzina is survived by his wife of 36 years, Patricia, and her daughter Sheila (Monty) Walker of Cherry Valley; adult children and their spouses, son Ken (Judy) Pierzina, Jr. of Apple Valley, son Bruce (Mary Ellen) Pierzina of Roseburg, ORand daughter Brinda Tucker of Apple Valley; his goddaughter Gina VanDeWalle of Davenport, IA, and many grandchildren; sisters Maryanne Johnson of Salem, OR, Ilene (Larry) Wylie of Hemet, and brothers Lee Alton of Salem, OR and Clifford (Margie) Pierzina of Central Pointe, OR.
A memorial service celebration of his life was held at Lucerne Valley Community Church on February 21, 2013.