The world lost a great man on November 14 when Ken Gage went to be with God. Kind, loyal and generous to a fault, he was accepting and loving of everyone, no matter who they were or what they believed.
Born in 1936 to Kenneth and Charlotte Gage in Auburn, New York, Ken spent his youth in the neighboring town of Maine.
Over the course of his 46-year career as owner of the Conklin Reliable Market & Butcher Shop, Ken rose to be a pillar of his upstate New York community. He was also a Mason, a 9-year Veteran of the National Guard, and most recently a member of St. Marks the Evangelist in The Villages, Florida.
Whether restoring vintage cars or building an addition on the house, Ken was good with tools and enjoyed working with his hands. He had a wry sense of humor and enjoyed playing the occasional prank on friends (in a loving spirit of course). He was also legendary as a storyteller.
More than anything though, Ken was about family. Marriage and family were important goals from early on, and the devotion to his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren became unwavering. It is through them that he lives on. Every one of them is an embodiment of his generosity, kindness, humility, and loving ways.
They are his true legacy: Sally, his loving wife of 61 years. Sisters (and spouses): Vivan (Larry), Sheila (John). Brother-in-law John (Lynn). Children: Laurie (Rick) (Bruce), Ken (Jennifer), Todd (Angela), John (Caroline), Melanie (Dave). Grandchildren: Michael, Tara (James), Jillan (Dave), Isabel (Steven), Nicholas (Jennifer), Johnny (Hope), Jesse, Leo, Harrison (Tyler), Sofia, Jack, Charlotte, Will, Dylan, Sam. Great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Georgia, Lincoln, Ronan, Olive, Uma, Wells, Callahan.
