Kenneth L. Varady

With regret, we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and brother, Kenneth L. Varady. Kenneth L. Varady, 70, of Collinsville, Ill., passed away on Monday, January 23, 2012, at Relais Bonne Eau, in Edwardsville, Ill. He was born on November 20, 1941, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Bernard & Adele (nee Zaepert) Varady. His parents and his brother, Bob Varady, preceded him in death. Ken was a 1963 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Mines (now Missouri University of Science and Technology) in Rolla, Mo., where he received a degree in metallurgical engineering. He was a widely respected engineer who designed heating and cooling systems for major commercial structures in Little Rock, Ark., Denver, Colo., and Dallas, Texas, prior to his retirement. He also invented and developed an air purification system and received many awards for his professional design work throughout his career. He was a member of VFW Post 5691 Men's Auxiliary of Collinsville, Ill., and Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity. He was a patriotic American who enjoyed politics, a sports enthusiast and fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arkansas Razorbacks, a voracious reader, and loved working crossword puzzles to challenge his keen intellect. He is survived by his four loving children: Cheri (Varady) Holt of Little Rock, Ark.; T. Scott (Melissa) Varady of Fayetteville, Ark.; Stephen (Dianna) Varady of Little Rock, Ark.; and Susan (Sean) (Varady) Walters of Denver, Colo. He is also survived by his loving sister, Kathy (Frank) Hansen of Granite City, Ill., and his brothers: Art (Sandy) Varady of Wentzville, Mo.; Danny Varady of Belleville, Ill.; and Gary Varady of Mt. Vernon, Ill. He was the proud grandfather of eight grandchildren: Joanna Holt of Washington, D.C.; Joshua Holt of Little Rock, Ark.; Nathan Varady and Emily Varady of Fayetteville, Ark.; Bradley Varady of Little Rock, Ark.; and Avery Walters, Anna Walters, and Amelia Walters of Denver, Colo. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012, at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Collinsville, Ill., with Fr. John Beveridge officiating. Prior to the Funeral Mass, family and friends will gather at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill., followed by a reception at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church to celebrate Ken's life. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Arkansas Autism Resource and Outreach Center in Little Rock, Ark., or Hospice of Southern Illinois (Relais Bonne Eau Community Hospice Home) in Edwardsville, Ill. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.hakassly.com.