Brother Kenneth D. Mehn, O.S.A. (1949 - 2001)

Brother Kenneth D. Mehn, O.S.A. died suddenly on Wednesday evening, June 6, 2001, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin from a massive heart attack. He was the Secretary of the Augustinian Midwest Province since 1992 and Treasurer of the Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, Illinois.

Brother Kenneth was born on February 6, 1949. The son of the late Walter and Betty Mehn, he was baptized Gary David on February 27, 1949 at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, Saint Louis, Missouri. He is survived by a brother, Barry, and a sister, Sandra.

After attending Saint Cecilia Catholic Grade School, Saint Louis, Brother Ken entered the Augustinian Academy, Saint Louis. He graduated from there in 1967. That same year, he entered the formation program for brothers in the Order of Saint Augustine at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

In 1970, Brother Ken professed temporary vows in the Order of St. Augustine. At that time, he was assigned to Tolentine College, Olympia Fields, where he continued his formation and served the community and college by doing maintenance work. In 1973, he made his solemn (permanent) profession of vows in the Augustinian Order. He was then assigned to the missions in Peru, where he served as Business Manager of the bishop's house and Diocesan Center, La Casa de la Fraternidad.

After returning from Peru in 1975, Brother Ken was transferred to Austin Catholic High School, Detroit. He was Assistant Business Manager for two years. After his first year, he also became a teacher there. In 1977, Brother Ken was appointed Business Manager. After the closing of Austin Catholic High School in 1978, he returned to Tolentine, where he was Assistant Business Manager for a year. He then returned to the Peruvian missions in 1979.

From 1980 to 1990, Brother Ken was an instructor at Cascia Hall Preperatory School, Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in Tulsa, he earned a B.S. in Business Education from Langston University in 1984. He then served as a teacher at Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, Illinois, from 1990 to 1994. Brother Ken earned an M.A. in Secondary Education Administration from Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, in 1993. He taught next at Bishop McNamara High School, Kankakee, Illinois, from 1994 to 1999. He was transferred to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine monastery in 1999 and appointed Treasurer of the community.

In 1993, in addition to his duties as teacher, Brother Ken generously accepted the appointment to be Province Secretary. This was a role in which he continued until the time of his sudden and unexpected death.

Brother Ken will be remembered by Augustinians and others who knew him as an exceptionally generous and caring man. He knew how to anticipate the needs of others, and was untiring in his service to his community and to all those he served in different assignments. Brother Ken was extraordinarily kind and thoughtful in taking care of the senior members of the Tolentine community. He is missed by all who were blessed by knowing him: former students, friends and Augustinians.

Brother Ken was gifted with a great organizational sense and was responsible for making arrangements for the Province Convocation of 2001 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where most of the Midwest Augustinians were gathered at the time of his sudden death.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to: The Midwest Augustinians, 10161 S Longwood Dr, Chicago, IL 60643-2032 or via our Onlin e Giving Page.