Kenneth Al Sanchez, 66, passed away Feb. 13, 2025, in Payette, Idaho. He was born at home on April 9, 1958, in Seven Mile Plaza, Colo., to Joe Aldemo and Eva (Struck) Sanchez. He was raised in Seven Mile Plaza with all his siblings and many relatives.
When Ken was young, he met and married JoAn Gonzales and together they had a son Kenneth Al Sanchez II, aka little Kenny. In 1983, he met Brenda Schaefer, they were married and had three children, Heather, Dustin and Cassie. It was Del Norte, Colo., where they called home for many years.
Ken was employed by the Sawmill in Del Norte, owned by the late Leroy and Carol Rue, alongside his brother-in-law Charles Silva and many other longtime friends. In 1992, Ken moved his family to Payette, Idaho, where they would make their life until the day he was called home. Ken worked for a landscaping company in Fruitland, Idaho, until he got his final job at Woodgrain Millworks on Sept. 29, 1992. It was here that he retired on April 16, 2020, after 28 years of hard work and dedication.
On Sept. 2, 2011, Ken married his soul mate Tami Mitchell, and they would spend the rest of his life together as a couple. With a blended family, they very much enjoyed the time spent together and the memories made with them.
His greatest enjoyment in life was the time he spent with his loving family. Especially when he came to Colorado, this is where he enjoyed looking for arrowheads, BBQ’s, camping, dancing and telling wonderful stories of times growing up. He was an old soul who loved music with his deep connection to the past, he had an appreciation, connection and an understanding of the earlier eras. To him music back when it was more authentic and purer gave truer meaning. He was a man who valued quality over quantity, tradition over trend, he was very humble, mindful, never materialistic, very simple.
Kenny was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Eva Sanchez, brother Steve Sanchez and his son Julian, special nephew Kevin Medina, grandson Xavior Sanchez.
He is survived by his brothers Jasper (Clara) Sanchez of Del Norte, Colo., Mike Sanchez, of Monte Vista, Colo., James (Abby) Sanchez of Center, Colo., Dennis Sanchez of Butte, Mont.; sisters, Joyce Medina, of Idaho, Diane Rivera, Judy Garcia, and Debbie Silva of Del Norte, Colo.; along with his children, step-children, grand and great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, who loved him dearly and will never forget him.
Memorial service will be Friday, April 25, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Mission Church Seven Mile Plaza, Colo., with burial in the Plaza cemetery. The family invites you to join them following the graveside services in Del Norte, Colo., at the Annex community room 6th street, Del Norte, CO 81132.
In honor of the love Ken had for the Denver Broncos please wear Bronco attire or Bronco colors.
