Kenneth Paul Rittenhouse Sr. Obituary (1947 - 2019)

Kenneth "Ken" Paul Rittenhouse Sr, 71 of Bloomington passed away at 2:28 PM Saturday January 12, 2019 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. There will be a memorial service for Ken on Saturday January 19, 2019 at 1 PM at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home in Bloomington. The Reverend Dr. Randy Williams will officiate. There will be a visitation Friday January 18, 2019 from 4-7 PM at the Memorial Home. Ken was born June 21, 1947 in Streator, Illinois to Glenn and Harriet Murphy Rittenhouse. He married Carolyn McClure on September 16, 1972 in Urbana. She survives. He is also survived by three children, Kenneth Paul (Kellie) Rittenhouse Jr. of Clarkston, MI, Kevin Neal Rittenhouse of North Fort Myers, FL, Heather Causer (Allan Kolak) of Cape Coral, FL and three grandchildren, Daniel Rittenhouse, Brandon Causer, and Emma DeVoe. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Ann Buchta. Ken was a member of Centennial Christian Church in Bloomington. He was the son of a military pilot and flying was his passion. He worked for Illini Aviation in Urbana until 1973 when he purchased Clark Aviation in Bloomington which is now Image Air. He had over Twenty-Five Thousand flight hours, holding certificates for Flight/Ground Instructor, Commercial to include Sea and Helicopter and Airline Transport Pilot with numerous Type ratings. Ken was also owner of AmbuAir, ExecAir, Mid America Aviation Sales and Image Air Petroleum. He was also responsible for flights for organ recovery for many years along with being a flight instructor and mentor to many pilots over the years. Ken loved boating, holding a Master Merchant Mariner license and loved to play golf. Ken was an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to St. Jude Children's Hospital.