Kenneth Duane (Captain Ken) Trytten

April 3rd, 1953 – June 25th, 2024  Age 71

Captain Ken passed peacefully on June 25th 2024, at Essentia Health St Mary’s Medical Center, in Duluth, MN surrounded by his family, overlooking Lake Superior. A celebration of life will be held at the Austin Eagles Club on Sunday July 28th 1p-4p, don’t hesitate to wear your best dressed Hawaiian Shirt!

Captain Ken grew up in the Glenville/Myrtle area with his parents, Bud & Gwen and his 4 siblings, Dick, Deby, Paul, and Leota, he was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran in Glenville and graduated from Glenville high school in 1971. Ken made many influential childhood friends growing up.  He and the neighborhood boys still found time to get together as adults joining him on annual fishing trips. Ken served in the Army April 1973 – April 1975 and was stationed in Germany. Following his Military service Ken received his Associate Degree in Business at the Austin Community College 1976 – 1977, shortly after Captain Ken married the love of his life and soulmate, Peggy Lange on October 8th, 1977 in Myrtle, MN, they built their life together in Austin, MN and raised their two beautiful children, Cosette (Kriehn) and Ryan Trytten. Living in the same home in Austin, Ken grew a bond with the most considerable neighbor; “The Dude”, and never missed a Friday fun night filled with laughs and good times. Over the years Ken was employed at Century Liquor, National Welding, and Freeborn Foods, until he later retired in 2015. He was a member of the Fraternal Order Eagles, the American Legion, and Moose Lodge. Ken was blessed with his two gorgeous grandchildren Hailey (2004) and Jerett Kriehn (2008), he loved them deeply and spent as much time with them as he could. He gave them the love of fishing and tried his best to teach them all his tips and tricks along the way. Captain Ken and his wife Peggy grew a love for life on the lake where Ken later received the nickname “Captain Ken”. Since 1991 and over the years, Ken and Peg would spend weeks at a time up north at Dixon Lake, and after retirement, they spent their summers “enjoying the good life”, making memories, and creating a kind and generous Shangri-La Lake family like never before. Ken would spend his time “winning the big bucks” at the casino with his wife, fishing, and hunting with his son, grandson, and son-in-law, he enjoyed watching hockey with his son and son-in-law, and having football nights with his family. Ken loved the time he got with his family and cherished every second. He strived for a spot on the plaque for family poker, was always good  for a laugh and had a sense of humor like no other. Captain Ken touched many hearts. But most of all, he was admired for the love he had for his wife, it’s the type of love you dream about, they carried each other through thick and thin, one step at a time, and enjoyed every moment. Cheers… to the best boat ride a man could ask for.

Captain Ken is proceeded in death by; parents, Ferlando (Bud) and Gwen Trytten; siblings, Dick, Deby, and Paul Trytten; father and mother-in-law Norbert (Hap) and Bev Lange; sister-in-law Melanie Lange; nephews JJ Ramey and Nate Mcfarland; and a man’s best friend, Killer. Survived by; wife, Peggy Trytten; children, Cosette (Todd) Kriehn, Ryan Trytten and Rascal boy; grandchildren, Hailey and Jerett Kriehn; sister, Leota (Doug) Lind; many brothers & sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and the Shangri-La lake family.

Written by: His favorite granddaughter, Hailey Kriehn