Obituary for Kenneth Robert Tabolt
December 16, 1950 - March 21, 2017
Ken Tabolt died on Tuesday, March 21st at Community Hospital in Syracuse, where he had been in intensive care since March 7th.
He is survived by four loving children and their spouses: Jessica and Ian Halm of Campton, NH, Melanie and Jeff Pate of Harrisburg, NY, Amanda and Mark Kenyon of East Meredith, NY, and Gregory and Casey Tabolt of Martinsburg, NY. He also had six grandchildren: Avery and Jenna Pate, Sabine and Vincent Halm, and Tucker and Eleanor Tabolt, as well as six siblings: Ethel Richards, Barbara Calderala, Clifford Tabolt, Floyd Tabolt, Donna Petzoldt, and Marion Raineri, many siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
Ken attended the "Little Schoolhouse" on the Benton Road in New Bremen, St. Peter's Catholic School and Lowville Academy, where he graduated in 1969. He worked on his family's dairy farm and several other area farms until enlisting in the US Navy where he was trained as a machinist and assigned to work on the Ulysses S. Grant submarine until 1973. While on leave, he returned to Lewis County and worked on the Marks Farm, where he met his wife, Sandra Rhone. They were married on November 29th, 1975. Ken worked various farm jobs and at AMF, as well as attending BOCES day school on the GI Bill. Ken and Sandy raised pigs before starting their own dairy on the Snell Rd. in New Bremen. Sandy passed of cancer in 1986, leaving Ken to raise their four children, with the support of his family. The well-being of his children remained the focus of the rest of his life.
Ken stepped away from the physical demands of farming in 1997, and worked various jobs as a logger, truck driver, and snowplow operator at the Fort Drum Airfield. He was an avid wildlife and farm crops observer. He also enjoyed maple sugaring, country music, Nascar, and most of all joking around with his family and friends.
Calling hours are planned at the Lundy Funeral Home & Cremation Service Inc., located at 500 State Street in Carthage, NY on Friday, March 24th from 5-8pm at the funeral home and a Funeral Mass will take place at St. James Catholic church 327 West St, Carthage, on Saturday, March 25th at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent in Ken's memory to the Lowville FFA Chapter, 7668 State Street, Lowville, NY 13367, or to the Disabled American Veterans PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301. Online condolences can be made at www.lundyfuneralhome.com