Schmidgall, Kenneth Kenneth George Schmidgall, 91, died in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on Sunday, January 29, 2017. Ken was born on September 5, 1925 in Hancock, Minnesota, to John and Elizzie (Metzger) Schmidgall. After graduating as valedictorian of Hancock High School, he served in the Army with an engineering battalion that saw action in the European Theatre during World War II. At different times he attended Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL) and Dunwoody Industrial Institute (Minneapolis, MN). He moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1952 to work in the construction trades as a carpenter and mason. In 1953, Ken and Mary Josephine Banwart were married in West Bend, Iowa. They established a home and family in west Phoenix when the area around 27th Avenue and Maryland was still largely farm fields and citrus groves. They moved their family to Cave Creek, Arizona, in 1962, then later to north Phoenix. They made their home in New River, Arizona, from 1979 through 2008 where Ken worked as a maintenance supervisor at New River Elementary School. Ken and Mary Jo lived their twilight years in Phoenix and Paradise Valley, where Mary Jo passed away after 59 years of marriage. Ken was a talented craftsman and built and remodeled homes throughout his working years. In New River he was known for growing large vegetable gardens and sharing the harvest with friends and neighbors. Ken was a longtime member of the Apostolic Christian Church of America and shared his love of God's word by teaching children's Sunday School for many years. He enjoyed singing hymns and could sing the words to favorite songs even in his last years. Ken is survived by four children; Doug (Susan), Dorene (Bradley Bahler), Alan (Julie) and Jay; 16 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; six sisters and one brother. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Jo, four brothers and four sisters. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM on Thursday, February 2 at Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary, 6500 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 3 at Apostolic Christian Church, 9230 N. 26th Street, Phoenix. Interment following the funeral service will be at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 4310 E. Southern Ave, Phoenix. Please visit www.hansenmortuary.com for online condolences.