Des Moines, IA - Des Moines has
lost an adventurer, a bon vivant, and a true friend. Kenneth Arthur
Johnsen died last week on his sailboat in Mystic Harbor, Connecticut.
He was 66. Born on October 18th, 1951, in Council Bluffs, Ken spent
most of his life in Des Moines working as an attorney in private
practice. An unpretentious gentleman who shunned the spotlight, Ken was
nonetheless very active in the service of his clients and friends. He
worked tirelessly on behalf of Iowans in his specialty of social
security/disability law and was a mentor in Big Brothers/Big Sisters of
Greater Des Moines. Ken was a competitive athlete throughout his life
and earned third place in his age group in last summer's Des Moines
Escape Triathlon. A diehard baseball fan, Ken could be found every
summer cheering on the Chicago Cubs at his favorite Des Moines watering
holes, including Sully's, Greenwood Tap, Wellman's Pub, Yacht Club, and
Ladder 13. In 1981, Ken found his life companion in Kristen Nassif when
the two won a dancing competition on the night they met. In their
decades together, Ken and Kris shared a home, a loving family, and
far-flung adventures on their sailboat, "The Kristy Sue." Ken's love of
sailing is legendary, a passion that took him from Saylorville Lake to
the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean islands. He convinced friends, both
seasoned and not-so-seasoned, to crew with him on journeys of hundreds
of miles in open seas, leaving many weary and seasick even as Ken teed
up his next trip. Ken's warm smile and generous heart will be dearly
missed by his family and many friends. Ken is preceded in death by his
parents Arthur and Vera Johnson, dear friends Newell and Ardell
Roberts, and beloved German Shorthaired Pointer Clyde. He is survived
by his partner Kristen Nassif of Des Moines; sister Joyce Burney of
Hallandale Beach, FL; brother Ron Johnsen of Columbus, OH; nieces
Martha, Ruth and Christina; nephews James and Josh; step-daughter
Allison Gioelli (Brian); step-son Jake Nassif (Sarah) of Minneapolis;
and step-grandchildren Johanna, Charley, Gene and Olive. All are
welcome to join a celebration of Ken's life at 6pm on Saturday, July
14th at the Waveland Clubhouse at 4908 University Ave. in Des Moines.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.