Kenneth Lee Westercamp

Frankenmuth, MI

Kenneth Lee Westercamp, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend returned to his Heavenly Father on October 18, 2019, at Wellspring Lutheran Home, in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

He was born on July 18, 1931 in Newton, Iowa; and was the first child and eldest son of Fred Theodore and Helen McCurdy Westercamp.

Ken was reared in the country near Kellogg, Iowa. He attended a one room country school through the eighth grade. He excelled academically and at eighth grade graduation received recognition for highest GPA male student in the county.

After high school graduation he enrolled at Iowa State University graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in mechanical engineering.

He began his career in January 1958 at Saginaw Steering Gear division of General Motors as a junior design engineer. He was promoted to project engineer in 1966, and senior project engineer in 1972. That same year, he was named staff product engineer in the Product Engineering Department.

In 1995, he was inducted into Delphi Automotive Systems Innovation Hall of Fame; having 10 engineering inventions. His first patent for a steering linkage was filed in 1961 and nine others followed, with the latter in 1998 for a 4-wheel steering system.

Through his 40-year career he was involved with many innovative products. Among which were the Tilt-Wheel steering column, half shafts, brushless DC motors, Electric Power Steering, and QUADRASTEER.

He was honored at a special event in October 2014, honoring his legacy as the, "Father of EPS", celebrating the sale of more than 25 million electric power steering (EPS) systems since their introduction in 1999.

His career was his life until he met Susan and her five children. He married Susan Johnston on September 7, 1985 in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Kenneth was devoted to everything he embraced, especially his new family. He never shied away from being a husband, father, and mentor. He always stated he had never met a stranger. He was an example to all he met. Words he lived by were "Quitters never win, and winners never quit"; as well as "It's the little things that make a big difference" … and did he ever!

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He loved the Lord and served in numerous capacities, including Ward Clerk, Ward Mission Leader, High Counselor, Stake Mission Leader, and Counselor of the Bishopric, and always a humble servant in every way.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; three sons and two daughters: Brent Jay (Neva) of Pleasant Grove, UT; Jared (Rebecca) of Mapleton, UT; Dan (Jade) of Frankenmuth, MI; Jennifer (Brian) of Grand Blanc, MI; Hanna (Heath) of Layton, UT. They have 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Sisters Joy of Kellogg, IA; Kathleen of Ankeny, IA; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Keith.

Funeral services will be held Sat October 26, 2019, at 1:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1415 N Center Rd, Saginaw, MI , with a brief viewing prior to the service in the Relief Society Room from 12:00 – 12:45 PM.  Friends may call at Cederberg Funeral Home, 590 North Franklin, Frankenmuth, MI , on Friday, October 25, 2019, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM. The internment will be in the Frankenmuth Township Cemetery; 835 West Tuscola, Frankenmuth, MI following the funeral service.

The family would like to express grateful appreciation to those who cared for our loved-one at Wellspring Lutheran Services and Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, family would like to ask that contributions be made to Latter Day Saint Charities and Humanitarian Fund ( www.latterdaysaintcharities.org )