Kenneth William Threlkeld

Kenneth William Threlkeld came out like a firecracker on the 4th of July 1935 in Ladonia, Texas (or Muddig, depending on who you ask) to Louise and Quincy Threlkeld. He passed away on May 23, 2024. As a child growing up in Muddig, he walked across his father’s cotton and cattle farm carrying his lunch in a syrup bucket to attend school with 15 classmates. After high school, he served in the Army. His GI bill provided the opportunity to attend East Texas State College (now Texas A&M Commerce) where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business in 1960. He came to the big city of Tyler in 1961 to work as an accountant for Milton Vanderpool at Ideal Baking Company. Later that year, he joined Squyres, Johnson, and Squyres as an accountant and auditor. Ken began his insurance career with a short-lived stint with State Farm in June 1964. After five months, he was fired and told he would never be successful in the insurance industry, but Ken knew he just hadn’t found the right fit. In January 1965, he went to work for the Clyde-Prestidge Insurance Agency and within the year, he bought half interest in the agency and owned the agency by 1974. He continued to build the business, merging with other companies, and was strictly on his own by 1982. When asked about his occupation, he often replied that “the insurance business was tough, but it can be luuuuuucrative.” His son, Todd Threlkeld, continues to run the company that Ken successfully built. In 2006, Ken was the first recipient of the Paige Eiland Political Action Award recognizing the person whose political involvement most benefited independent insurance agents. Ken was a man who wore many hats. While he loved the insurance industry deeply, he also cared just as much about his community and his family. He believed that you have to give into the community in order to receive anything back. He served as president, chairman, and board member of several Tyler and East Texas-based organizations, the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership program at Texas A&M College Station, the American Cancer Society, and the Texas A&M Commerce Foundation. He was passionate about the Tyler Cattle Barons’ Gala, which he hosted at his farm twice, and he gave the annual chairperson a pair of custom-made Lucchese boots. In 2008, Ken received the Build East Texas Award of Excellence from the State of Texas House of Representatives. He also received the Bill and Mary Clements Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership in Agriculture and the Cystic Fibrosis Breath of Life Award in 2010. Ken never forgot his agricultural roots. In 1977, he bought the Vanderpool Dairy Farm in Flint and helped his in-laws settle there. He loved the cattle business, even though he said “it was tough, hoss” to anyone who would listen. At one point he owned more than 600 head of cattle and ran a hay business on the farm. Ken never did anything halfway and it shows in the well-kept farm that the family still owns today. Of all the causes and activities that Ken was involved in throughout his years, there was one cause, one hat, that he loved the most, and that was the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. When Ken’s granddaughter, Grace Knight, was diagnosed with the disease in 1999, he immediately got to work fundraising for a cure. Ken’s daughter, Lori Knight, learned her skills in garnering community support and funds from her father. Ken told her that “raising money is just like selling insurance. The best way to do it is eyeball to eyeball. You’ve got to get personal.” Ultimately, that was Ken’s mission in life: to get personal with the people around him to make positive change in the community. And Ken was very good at it. The first Cystic Fibrosis Foundation event in Tyler, the 1999 Great Strides Walk, raised a record $100,000 which was the most for any first-time walk nationwide. Ken increased his support for that cause for the rest of his life. Ken loved the complex challenges of poker, and enjoyed the weekly games and fellowship with his poker buddies. He accomplished his dream of playing in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he advanced several rounds with some of the world’s best players. More important than anything was the time he spent with his family. Cherished memories were made while sharing a pew with his family each week at church, traveling with them on exciting trips, and coming together to eat and celebrate holidays, birthdays, especially the Fourth of July, and any other opportunity to spend time with them. Ken is survived by his daughters, Lori Knight and her husband Scott; Mandy Lohner and her husband Mike; and his son, Todd Threlkeld. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Brandon Threlkeld, Grace Knight, Ken Knight, Will Knight, Michael Lohner, Maggie Lohner; and the mother of his children, Cheryl Threlkeld. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sue Cox, and husband, Billy Cox. Ken’s family would like to thank Angie Martin and Nancy James, along with the staff of Hospice of East Texas, who assisted him the past few years. They were his support system when he could no longer take care of himself and brought him so much joy and laughter in the last few years of his life. Graveside services will be held at Rose Hill Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held afterwards at 2:30 in Pirtle Hall at Marvin Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin Street, Tyler, Texas. A reception will be held thereafter at Willow Brook Country Club, 3205 W. Erwin Street. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 2248 Central Drive, Suite 107 Box 246, Bedford, TX 76201, or a charity of your choice.

Kenneth William Threlkeld

July 4, 1935 - May 23, 2024