Kenneth F. Hewitt, 91, of Brunswick, NY, passed peacefully on October 29, 2025, at home on his farm in Brunswick, where he lived his whole life.
Ken was the son of the late Wilbur J. and H. Marguerite (Houser) Hewitt and was born in Troy, NY, February 23, 1934. He attended the one-room District #6 Schoolhouse as a boy and later attended Lansingburgh and Troy High Schools. In 1954, during a night of square dancing at Dave Denny's Barn in Latham, Ken met his future bride, Margaret (Peggy) Clarke. Ken and Peggy were married on November 24, 1955, and went on to have a son, John, in 1957. The couple enjoyed square dancing, snowmobiling, and for many years playing pinochle with the Tates and Gibsons. They traveled with friends and family to Hawaii, Florida, and St. Maarten. Ken and Peggy would have celebrated 70 years of marriage next month.
Throughout his life, Ken was known for being a hard worker. As a young man, he worked for his father on the farm and Diamond Rock Dairy in Lansingburgh, making ice cream and delivering milk. He also worked at Pollock's Farm Supply in Eagle Mills. In 1958, Ken bought the farm from his father and took over the dairy operation, growing it substantially over the years with the help of his son, John. In 1985, Ken and John shifted focus from dairy to crop farming and continued to work side-by-side until Ken retired from field work at the age of 85. During that time, Ken was also a Pioneer Seed Sales Representative for over 30 years.
In addition to farming, Ken had a passion for racing. For nearly 30 years, Ken could be found every Saturday night during race season at Lebanon Valley Speedway, not racing himself but working on his son's car and cheering him on. He spent countless hours in the garage over the years building and working on cars, making sure they were ready for race night. He was John's #1 Fan.
Ken was also an avid NASCAR fan, who never missed a race on television, and for many years attended the Daytona 500 together with Peggy in Daytona, FL.
More than anything, Ken had a love for his family. He had a hard exterior but a heart that cared deeply for his loved ones, always making sure they were taken care of. He had a bond with his son like no other and was like a second father to his daughter-in-law, Debbie. He loved spending time with his granddaughters, Tarra and Tiffany, whether it was rides in the tractor, trips to the beach, going for an ice cream cone, or playing checkers when they were young to visits and family meals as they got older. In his later years, he loved having his great-grandchildren around and watching them grow. Over the years, Ken always loved to laugh at a good joke as well.
Ken is predeceased by his brothers and sister, Robert Hewitt, Raymond Hewitt, Charles Hewitt, and Sharon Maxon, his brother and sister-in-law, Ruth and Paul Wehnau Sr., and brother-in-law, Richard Havens.
In addition to his loving wife, Ken is survived by his son, John, and daughter-in-law, Debra Hewitt, his granddaughters, Tarra (Al) Quackenbush and Tiffany (Corey) Dahl, great-grandchildren, Zachary Dahl, Riley Dahl, Caleigh Quackenbush, and Natalie Quackenbush, sisters-in-law, Linda Hewitt and Mary Havens, a brother-in-law, Paul Maxon, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to sincerely thank the wonderful caregivers who provided Ken such excellent care: Sue, Cheryl, Linda, Nancy, Kathy, Wendy, and Gina, as well as Drs. Lisa Thorn, Ali Muhammad, and John Verdini.
Friends and family are invited to call on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 NY Route 7, located in Raymertown, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. A funeral service for Ken will be held on TUESDAY, November 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Eagle Mills Cemetery.
At the request of the family, rather than flowers, contributions may be made to either Gilead Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 26, Cropseyville, NY 12052, or Evangelical Lutheran Church of Raymertown, 27 Mason Lane, Raymertown, NY 12180, in memory of Kenneth F. Hewitt.
Ken was the son of the late Wilbur J. and H. Marguerite (Houser) Hewitt and was born in Troy, NY, February 23, 1934. He attended the one-room District #6 Schoolhouse as a boy and later attended Lansingburgh and Troy High Schools. In 1954, during a night of square dancing at Dave Denny's Barn in Latham, Ken met his future bride, Margaret (Peggy) Clarke. Ken and Peggy were married on November 24, 1955, and went on to have a son, John, in 1957. The couple enjoyed square dancing, snowmobiling, and for many years playing pinochle with the Tates and Gibsons. They traveled with friends and family to Hawaii, Florida, and St. Maarten. Ken and Peggy would have celebrated 70 years of marriage next month.
Throughout his life, Ken was known for being a hard worker. As a young man, he worked for his father on the farm and Diamond Rock Dairy in Lansingburgh, making ice cream and delivering milk. He also worked at Pollock's Farm Supply in Eagle Mills. In 1958, Ken bought the farm from his father and took over the dairy operation, growing it substantially over the years with the help of his son, John. In 1985, Ken and John shifted focus from dairy to crop farming and continued to work side-by-side until Ken retired from field work at the age of 85. During that time, Ken was also a Pioneer Seed Sales Representative for over 30 years.
In addition to farming, Ken had a passion for racing. For nearly 30 years, Ken could be found every Saturday night during race season at Lebanon Valley Speedway, not racing himself but working on his son's car and cheering him on. He spent countless hours in the garage over the years building and working on cars, making sure they were ready for race night. He was John's #1 Fan.
Ken was also an avid NASCAR fan, who never missed a race on television, and for many years attended the Daytona 500 together with Peggy in Daytona, FL.
More than anything, Ken had a love for his family. He had a hard exterior but a heart that cared deeply for his loved ones, always making sure they were taken care of. He had a bond with his son like no other and was like a second father to his daughter-in-law, Debbie. He loved spending time with his granddaughters, Tarra and Tiffany, whether it was rides in the tractor, trips to the beach, going for an ice cream cone, or playing checkers when they were young to visits and family meals as they got older. In his later years, he loved having his great-grandchildren around and watching them grow. Over the years, Ken always loved to laugh at a good joke as well.
Ken is predeceased by his brothers and sister, Robert Hewitt, Raymond Hewitt, Charles Hewitt, and Sharon Maxon, his brother and sister-in-law, Ruth and Paul Wehnau Sr., and brother-in-law, Richard Havens.
In addition to his loving wife, Ken is survived by his son, John, and daughter-in-law, Debra Hewitt, his granddaughters, Tarra (Al) Quackenbush and Tiffany (Corey) Dahl, great-grandchildren, Zachary Dahl, Riley Dahl, Caleigh Quackenbush, and Natalie Quackenbush, sisters-in-law, Linda Hewitt and Mary Havens, a brother-in-law, Paul Maxon, and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to sincerely thank the wonderful caregivers who provided Ken such excellent care: Sue, Cheryl, Linda, Nancy, Kathy, Wendy, and Gina, as well as Drs. Lisa Thorn, Ali Muhammad, and John Verdini.
Friends and family are invited to call on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at the Howard B. Tate & Son Funeral Home Inc., 2237 NY Route 7, located in Raymertown, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. A funeral service for Ken will be held on TUESDAY, November 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Eagle Mills Cemetery.
At the request of the family, rather than flowers, contributions may be made to either Gilead Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 26, Cropseyville, NY 12052, or Evangelical Lutheran Church of Raymertown, 27 Mason Lane, Raymertown, NY 12180, in memory of Kenneth F. Hewitt.
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