LIFE REFLECTIONS

Kenneth Coffee

After high school, Kenneth attended Truman and Kennedy-King Colleges before enlisting in the United States Air Force. He served with distinction as a Special Police officer and a Warehouseman. Upon returning to civilian life, Kenneth worked in a variety of roles, including manager positions at Home Depot and Ace Hardware, a brief stint as a photographer for the Chicago Defender, and as a bus driver for Trailways. He also spent many years employed by the Chicago Transit Authority as a Switchman, from which he retired in 2017.

Kenneth Coffee was born on January 21, 1953, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the cherished only child of Betty Jeanelle Coffee.

From a young age, Kenneth exhibited an independent spirit and a curious mind. When he was just two years old, the Coffee family moved to Chicago, where Kenneth grew up and came to call the city and the nearby Evanston area "home."

During his elementary school years, Kenneth lived on Chicago's South Side and attended several different schools. Eventually, he enrolled at Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Academy, where he was introduced to the Seventh-day Adventist faith. When the family relocated to Evanston, Kenneth attended and graduated from Evanston Township High School. It was there that he discovered a love for photography, a passion that would remain with him throughout his life. At family gatherings, Kenneth could often be found with a camera in hand, capturing and preserving cherished memories.

As a teenager and young adult, Kenneth remained active in the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church, and for two summers, he worked as a counselor at Camp Wagner, which hosted the Adventist Youth Camp.

There, he assisted with camp upkeep, cared for the horses, and enjoyed outdoor activities. Kenneth also sang with the Shiloh Philharmonic Youth Choir, traveling and performing as part of the group.

A talented musician, Kenneth played the saxophone in several local bands and was known for his cooking, particularly his famous cornbread dressing. Always an entrepreneur, he briefly operated his own photography studio and ran a construction company. Kenneth also loved motorcycles and was an avid fisherman with a deep appreciation for boats. Despite his love for fishing, he never quite enjoyed eating fish-an amusing contradiction that his family and friends often laughed about. Over the years, Kenneth owned three boats: the Shelby I, Shelby II, and Old Time. Restoring and fishing from these boats brought him great joy. But his greatest joy was the birth of his daughter, Shelby Rose. Her name was proudly displayed on two of his boats and was forever etched in his heart.

Kenneth was a faithful member of the Morton Grove Masonic Lodge #1146, where he achieved the 32nd degree, and also a member of the Medinah Shriners in Addison, IL. Later in life, he deepened his spiritual journey with the help of his dear friend, Cathy Charity. Having originally met in high school, Kenneth and Cathy shared a special bond, and together they completed Bible studies with First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church under the guidance of Pastor Eugene Roberson. It was during this time that Kenneth accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. One of the many activities Kenneth and Cathy enjoyed together was that of step dancing. Cathy remained a true and loyal friend to Kenneth until the very end, a blessing in his life that he truly cherished.

After a valiant fight with cancer, Kenneth passed away on March 12, 2026.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Coffee-Crosby. He leaves behind to cherish his memory: his beloved daughter, Shelby Rose Coffee; his special friend, Cathy Charity (and her family; his uncle, Douglas Coffee Sr. (Joyce); cousins Joe Michael Amos Jr., Helen Richardson (Reginald), Dwaun McKamey (James), Douglas Coffee Jr. (Jessica), Danielle Coffee, David, Brian, Sonny, and Linda Coffee; as well as a host of extended family and dear friends.

As the sentiment says, "When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." Kenneth's memory will indeed be treasured in the hearts of those who knew him, forever and always.