Kay Raymond Hermansen

Kay Raymond Hermansen was brought to heaven by our Lord on February 19, 2009 in El Paso, Texas after battling with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on January 24, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Holyoke, Massachusetts, raised solely by his mother, Bertha, during the great depression. As a boy he learned tap dancing and performed throughout his youth. He graduated from Holyoke High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he met and married June Audrey Kurth on July 5, 1952. He took a job as a draftsman for F.W. Sickles in Chicopee, Massachusetts. In 1972, he moved to El Paso when the company, now General Instruments, relocated to this city. During his 40-year career he traveled to Taiwan to set up their specifications department. Kay was a family man who loved to drive his wife and three children in their station wagon as they crisscrossed the country from Niagara Falls to the Golden Gate Bridge. But his favorite destination was his beloved Cape Cod. He treasured the real passions in his life – golf, driving, the Red Sox, news, sports, St. Patty’s day, dancing and sci-fi movies - and especially his family and friends and his grandchildren, whom he adored. Kay always offered his smile and charm to everyone he encountered. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 56 years, June; his daughter Andy and son Bill and companion Karen of this city; son Bob and wife Jeanie of Austin, Texas; two beautiful grandchildren, Kristen and Catherine; and his loving dog Keely. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Shirley, niece Carol and husband Bill, great nephew Jamey and wife Robin, and nephew Rick and wife Pat. Visitation for Kay will be Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 4 until 7 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home-West. Funeral Mass will be Monday, February 23, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Catholic Church. Interment to follow at Memorial Pines Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to Sunset Funeral Home-West. Dad, Grandpa, Uncle Kay, thank you for all the joy you brought us over the years. We will miss you dearly. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West.