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Brother Kenneth D. Mehn, O.S.A. (1949 - 2001)

Brother Kenneth D. Mehn, O.S.A. died suddenly on Wednesday evening, June 6, 2001 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, from a massive heart attack. Brother Kenneth was the Secretary of the Augustinian Midwest Province since 1992, and treasurer of the Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, Illinois.

Brother Kenneth was born February 6, 1949. The son of the late Walter and Betty Mehn, he was Baptized Gary David February 27, 1949 at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, Saint Louis, Missouri. He is survived by a brother, Barry, and a sister, Sandra.

After attending Saint Cecilia Catholic Grade School, Saint Louis, Kenneth entered the Augustinian Academy, Saint Louis. He graduated from there in 1967.

He entered the formation program for brothers in the Order of Saint Augustine at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in 1967. He professed temporary vows in the Order of St. Augustine in 1970. At that time, Brother Ken was assigned to Tolentine College, Olympia Fields, where he continued his formation and served the community and college by doing maintenance work.

In 1973 Brother Ken made his solemn (permanent) profession of vows in the Augustinian Order. He was then assigned to the missions in Peru, where he served as business manager of the Bishop's house and Diocesan Center, La Casa de la Fraternidad.

After returning from Peru in 1975, Brother Ken was transferred to Austin Catholic High School, Detroit, Michigan. He was assistant business manager for two years. After his first year, he also became a teacher there. He was appointed business manager in 1977.

After the closing of Austin Catholic High School in 1978, Brother Ken returned to Tolentine, where he was assistant business manager for a year. He then returned to the Peruvian missions in 1979.

From 1980 to 1990, Brother Ken was an instructor at Cascia Hall Preperatory School, Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in Tulsa he earned a B.S. in Business Education from Langston University in 1984. In 1993 he earned an M.A. in Secondary Education Administration from Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois.

Brother Ken served as a teacher at Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, Illinois, from 1990 to 1994, and at Bishop McNamara High School, Kankakee, Illinois, from 1994 to 1999. In 1999 he was transferred to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine monastery and appointed treasurer of the community.

In 1993, in addition to his duties as teacher, Brother Ken generously accepted the appointment to be Province Secretary. This was a role in which he continued until the time of his sudden and unexpected death.

Brother Kenneth will be remembered by Augustinians and others who knew him as an exceptionally generous and caring man. He know how to anticipate the needs of others, and was untiring in his service to his community and to all those he served in different assignments.

He was gifted with a great organizational sense, and was responsible for making arrangements for the Province Convocation of 2001 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where most of the Midwest Augustinians were gathered at the time of his sudden death.

He was extraordinarily kind and thoughtful in taking care of the senior members of the Tolentine community. He is missed by all who were blessed by knowing him: former students, friends and Augustinians.

Brother Kenneth Mehn is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, 5401 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago, IL 60615-5664, or via Augustinian Guild Secure On-line Giving.