It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Kenneth Lee Rose of Rio Dell. He was known by many names to those who loved him — Baby, Honey BunBun, Dad, Opa, Kenneth Lee, Kenny, Rosebud and Wolfie, to name a few.

Ken was born to Carl and Nancy (Cowart) Rose on December 16, 1969. He was the fifth child and last son born to Carl and Nancy. He grew up in Fortuna and Hydesville, attending what was then known as Town School, Hydesville Elementary, Fortuna High School and East High. Some of his favorite childhood memories were spending time with his brothers and friends on Vancil Avenue in Fortuna, playing in the woods.

In 1984, Ken met the love of his life, Cindi Mock. They spent his freshman year riding around Hydesville and Carlotta on his dirt bike, getting gas at the old Murrish Market before riding on the river bar at the end of Fisher Road, exploring the trails and woods around Martin and Shirley’s, Fox Creek Road and Starvation Flats. They separated when Cindi graduated from high school. When Ken was 16, he and Brenda Beebe became parents to his first son. Ken quit school and went to work as a timber faller. He then went on to work at Humboldt Printing and then Pacific Lumber Company. He married Carrie Stephens in 1991 and they became parents to Ben, Amy and Matthew. After Ken and Carrie divorced, he and Monica Warden had a son together.

Ken and Cindi reconnected after both divorced their spouses and were married on May 3, 2008. They both said it was like no time had passed while they were apart and they picked up their friendship and romance right where they had left off. They liked to share that they were high school sweethearts; they knew God had made them for one another. During their nearly 18 years together, they built a life they both loved. They started a firewood business, Log Dawg Firewood, in 2020. While the rest of the world was shut down, Ken and Cindi spent countless hours in their truck and in the woods making firewood. Some of their best times were spent being surrounded by nothing but trees and God’s creatures.

Although Ken liked to complain that Cindi was crazy and she didn’t have to sing quite that loud in the truck, he always tuned the radio to the oldies station so she could sing along with the songs from the 1970s and 1980s. In the following years, anytime Cindi would get crabby Ken would tell her to get in the truck so he could take her to the woods. He knew it always made her feel better to spend time with him outdoors.

Ken accepted Jesus as his Savior in 2007 and was later baptized at Rio Dell Baptist Church by Papa Pastor (Darrow Sanderson). His was a quiet faith, but he loved Jesus and knew he would see many loved ones again in Heaven someday. Ken was also proud of kicking alcohol and an addiction to opiates that he had been prescribed for a back injury.

Ken passed away suddenly at the age of 55 from a massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage on the morning of February 7, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nancy and Carl Rose, and his special friend, Andy Crase. He is survived by his adoring and devoted wife, Cindi Rose; his children Kenneth Lee Anderson-Rose, Benjamin Rose, Amy Rose, Matthew Rose (Melissa) and Jared Warden; Cindi’s children which he loved like his own, Molly Buck (Felix), Callie Buck, and Levi Buck; his grandchildren, Lauriana, Nevaeh, Braydon, Teheya, Trae, Bellamy, Braxton, Kaliyah, Kaysen, Natalia, and Lily; his siblings David Cowart, Ronald Rose (Heidi), Steven Rose (Audrey), Brian Rose (Tammy), and June Rose-Castro (Noe); and his in-laws, John and Arlene Mock, Aaron Mock (Ruth), and Ammi Mock (Mark). He also leaves behind nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who mourn his passing.

There will be a memorial service for Ken on Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m. at Fortuna Church of the Nazarene, 1355 Ross Hill Road, Fortuna. Family welcome you to attend and share your memories of Ken.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ken Rose’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.