Kenneth James Oliver

Kenneth James Oliver was born on November 13, 1966, to Julia Ann (Johnson) and James (Skip) Edward Oliver in Kalamazoo, Michigan. All who knew Kenny would agree that he lived his life to the fullest and to the extreme. He worked hard, played hard, and loved even harder. He loved adventure, and his passions included riding anything with two wheels. He told many stories of BMX racing as a child and the time he spent riding around his hometown of Galesburg as a teenager. As an adult, he would ride around WMU's campus with a group of friends every week. He spent many hours building, grooming and stunt riding trails near Palmer Street in Kalamazoo. He was proud that he had taught each of his children to ride bicycles when they were just four years old, and that he could still out-ride people half his age. After graduating from Galesburg-Augusta High School, Kenny worked most of his life doing auto body work. At the time of his death he was working for his friend, a man he loved and respected, Ray Mikowski at Superior Fleet and Auto Body. He recently worked as an over the road truck driver for TMC and drove to every state in the continental U.S. except for Maine Kenny had a restless and wandering spirit, much like his father, and enjoyed the truck driver's life on the open road until he married his wife Theresa (Fenwick) on August 16, 2013. He claimed he hadn't ever wanted to get married or settle down in suburbia until he met her. He said he married her because he had never met a woman who would carry a pocket knife or bait her own hook. He became a father to her daughter, Sierra, and as a family they enjoyed many adventures together. Preceding him in death were three very special men in Kenny's life. These men included his father, James (Skip) Edward Oliver, his uncle, Ralph Johnson, and his longtime friend, Devon Beauchamp. He leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Julia and John Hageman, his sister Katherine (Roger) Anderson and his wife and step-daughter, Theresa and Sierra. He also leaves behind his children, Tony O'Brien, Emma Oliver, and Adam Stuck, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. An open house memorial will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 2-5 p.m. at the Galesburg City Hall, 200 East Michigan Avenue, Galesburg. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to help with medical and funeral costs. http://www.gofundme.com/szw438