Kenneth J. Spengler

A Memorial Visitation for Kenneth Joseph Spengler, 87, a resident of Palatine since 1965, will be held Friday, July 31, 2026, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL 60067. Visitation will continue Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 41 S. Rohlwing Road, Palatine, IL 60074. The Reverend Joel Lohafer will officiate.

Kenneth was born October 16, 1938, in Chicago and passed away July 19, 2026, in Arlington Heights, IL.

Kenneth was the beloved husband of Paula C. Spengler (née Albano); loving father of Julie Volchenboum (née Spengler) and Lisa Spengler; loving grandfather of Max (Jeriann Beiter), Zachary, Ari and Sophie; dear son of the late Chester and Helen (née Bilson) Spengler; fond brother of James Spengler (Susan) and uncle of Allen Spengler.

Ken grew up with his parents and brother in a two-flat on Kostner Avenue in Chicago’s Kelvyn Park neighborhood. He attended Kelvyn Park High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1961, followed by a master’s degree in chemistry from Marquette University in 1967. He was a member of Triangle Fraternity and enjoyed living in the fraternity house as an undergraduate.

Ken began his science teaching career at Sycamore High School in Sycamore, IL. In 1963, he became chair of the science department at Palatine High School, where he served for 35 years. Ken spent several summers traveling throughout the United States as a master teacher for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, an organization focused on improving STEM education in underserved areas.

Throughout his career, he received many honors for his teaching, including the American Chemical Society’s Great Lakes Regional Award in High School Chemistry Teaching and the Chemical Manufacturers Association Award for Excellence in High School Chemistry. The Illinois Science Teacher Association also recognized him as one of the top ten Secondary Science Teachers in the State of Illinois for 1992.

A nerd at heart, Ken proudly described himself as a card-carrying member of the slide rule club.

Ken was a gifted musician and proudly served as the organist at Christ Lutheran Church in Palatine for 56 years. He was also a member of the American Guild of Organists. In his youth, he played the French horn. He had a strong bass voice and sang in church choirs, the Lutheran Choir of Chicago and the Festival Chorus in Palatine. For several years, he entertained audiences as a member of the barbershop quartet the Brandy Bunch. At home, he enjoyed listening to loud — very loud — organ music while relaxing in his recliner on the back porch.

Ken never outgrew his childhood hobby of chasing trolleys with his classmates. The basement of his Palatine home was festooned with trolley and railway signs and featured an intricate, award-winning HO-scale trolley layout. He adorned it with custom miniature buildings, faux greenery and thoughtful, often cheeky artwork. He was an active member of the Northwest Traction Group and the Central Electric Railfans Association. Among his railfan honors were the First Place Module award at the 29th Annual Trainfest and the Best-of-Show Module award at the 35th Annual Trainfest, both presented in Milwaukee.

Volunteering was in Ken’s blood. He devoted his time to several worthy organizations, including the Palatine chapter of Rotary International, Friends of the Library, the Palatine Historical Society, among others.

Ken was known for his dry, witty sense of humor. He could deliver a one-liner in a perfectly deadpan voice, waiting until everyone else laughed before allowing himself to crack a smile. Many of his former students remember his famous “magic show” and his experiments with Peeps marshmallows blown up in a bell jar. He especially loved British comedy, including Fawlty Towers and Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Travel was another of Ken’s great pleasures. He visited several countries, including Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Scotland and Sweden. He particularly enjoyed taking History of Science Tours with his favorite travel companion, his wife, Paula.

Ken was unfailingly gentle and kind. He supported family members, friends, students and others in need whenever he could. We will miss him dearly, but his quiet strength and grace will always be with us.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to:

Christ Lutheran Church 41 S. Rohlwing Road Palatine, IL 60074

or

Illinois Railway Museum General Fund P.O. Box 427 Union, IL 60180