Kenneth Nicholas Simon, age 80, died Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at his home in Columbus. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Monday, April 16, 2012 in the atrium of Annunciation Catholic Church from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 AM with Father Robert Dore, Celebrant, assisted by Deacon William Nagle, and Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree Honor Guard. Burial with military honors will follow at Egger Cemetery, Caledonia, Ms. Mr. Simon was born December 1, 1931, in Green Bay, WI, to Louis Joseph and Rose Cumber Simon, and was one of seven children. When he was a young boy, he was raised on his grandparents dairy farm in Brussels, WI until he attended East High School in Green Bay, WI. He joined the US Marine Corps in 1949 where he served for 4 years. Then he joined the US Navy and was stationed on the USS Midway during the Korean conflict. He was later stationed at Charleston, SC in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, where he met and married his wife of 55 years, Elaine Williams Simon. He attended Mississippi State University at night for two years on completion of his military tour of duty. He was a route salesman for the Coca Cola Company. He then joined the Columbus Fire Department for four years. He worked for Brady Beverage Company (Falstaff) for several years, before going to work for Cash Distributing Company (Budweiser) from 1968 until 1980. For one year he worked for Lance, Inc. as a route salesman. When Old South Coors came to Mississippi in 1981, he was the first employee hired due to his knowledge of the business. Unfortunately, Old South Coors went out of business in 1983, and then he and his wife opened and operated Kens Package Store. He spent a few years at Mississippi Icee, Inc. before returning to Cash Distributing Company until his retirement in 1997, after 23 total years with the company. He served on the Selective Service Board for 20 years. He was a long time member of Green Oaks Golf Club, lifetime member of the American Legion, and current member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a charter member of the W.H. Jolly Council Knights of Columbus, holding the 3rd and 4th degrees. He also held several offices in the local council, as well as on the state level. He was an active member of Annunciation Catholic Church where he served in many church ministries throughout the years. He was famous for portraying Santa Claus for over 40 years for civic groups, especially the Rotary Club, appearing in many Christmas parades, and for individuals. He was a volunteer at Baptist Memorial Hospital for over 10 years. He was an avid fan of his hometown football team, the Green Bay Packers, as well as Mississippi State. He loved to cook and was famous for his homemade cheesecakes and breads. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joseph Louis Simon, Huntsville, AL, Donald James Simon, Green Bay, WI, and Richard Simon, Lancaster, CA. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Williams Simon, Columbus, MS; his three children David Nicholas (Tammy) Simon, Caledonia, MS, Vickie Lynn Simon (Hiroji) Noguchi, Kailua, HI, and Ann Michelle Simon, Columbus, MS, and five grandchildren, Nicholas Cade (Judy) Simon, April Ann Simon, both of Columbus, MS, Matthew K. Noguchi, Nicholas Kenji Noguchi and Maya N. Noguchi, all of Kailua, HI; one great grandson Nicholas Brooks Simon, Columbus, MS and 3 step-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Gerald (Bernice) Simon of Kohler, WI, his sisters Rosemary Wochenski and Ida Mae DeBauche of Green Bay, WI., brothers-in-law and sisters-in -law Everett and Faye Williams, Alethea Williams, Lynnda Williams, Louise Pack, Linda Stotts, all of Columbus, MS; P. H. Crumpton, Mobile, AL, Myrtle Simon, Huntsville, AL and Lori Simon of Green Bay, WI, and a number of nephews and nieces. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Cade Simon, Matthew K. Noguchi and Nicholas K. Noguchi and his nephews Nate Pack, Mike Williams and Gabe Boykin. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Mahoney, Earl Drye, Buddy Burks, Patrick McCormick, Dennis Hilbert, Tony Torrez, Joe Haftek, Kurt Dobbel, members of the Knights of Columbus, Tony Carley, Robert Gale, Eddie Rushing, Earl Sims, Glenn Baldwin, and Baptist Memorial Hospital Volunteers, especially Huida Nawls, Carolyn Smith, Carol Alexander and Fred Bell. Memorials may be made to Annunciation Catholic Church, 823 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701.
