Kenneth Dwaine Amstutz, 73, died unexpectedly on December 23, 2022, in Cypress, Texas. Ken was the second of seven children born to Dwaine and Ruth (Jones) Amstutz. He is survived by his loving spouse Doris; his daughter Mary (Robert) Reiter, and his six siblings.
Ken grew up in Bluffton, Ohio, near both his mother’s and father’s extended family. Since his father was an identical twin, he had a special connection with his cousins. He attended the Chicago Art Institute before serving in the U.S. Navy. After the Navy, he completed his bachelor’s degree at Ohio State University and extended studies at Bowling Green University. During his time at OSU, Ken met and married the loves of his life, Doris, and her young daughter Mary. Ken and Doris chose to raise their daughter in Ohio where Ken combined his love of art and teaching as an art teacher in the Findlay school system. In 1991 they relocated to Mission Viejo, California. Ken with his brother Greg founded Genesis International Orphanage Foundation, a non-profit organization helping orphans in Baja California, Mexico. Ken and Doris retired in 2014 and moved to Cypress, TX to be near their daughter and her husband. In Texas, Ken worked with children as a Para-Professional in the Special Education department of the Cypress Fairbanks school system.
Ken’s open-minded approach made him a wonderful listener, and no one was a stranger for long. He had an artist’s appreciation for life, finding inspiration in nature and people. His experiences growing up with six siblings, flight testing jets for the Navy, and transporting sugar from California to Mexico for the orphanages made for the best stories. He left this world a better place with his love and dedication to Family, Art, Education, and Children.
Honoring his wishes, his family will spread his ashes in Laguna Beach, California during the Sawdust Festival.
