Kenneth Hart Beard

Kenneth "Kenny" Hart Beard, 83, longtime resident of Oak Brook and Hinsdale, IL as well as Santa Barbara, CA.  He passed away peacefully at home on October 25, 2022.  Kenny was born on September 10, 1939, in Hardinsburg, Kentucky and was the elder of two children born to Bonnie and Arthur (‘Brick’) Beard.  He attended Breckinridge High School in Hardinsburg, where he was Salutatorian and later inducted into the Breckenridge County Hall of Fame.  Kenny attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with a degree in Engineering and an MBA.  He enthusiastically played varsity baseball at UK and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.  Kenny was a loyal and supporting Wildcat Alumni until the end.  It is at UK where he saw Susan Wells walking across campus and the rest is history.  He married Susan Caroll Wells in 1963 and they were married for 59 years.  Kenny’s first job was with the Trane Company in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He was then transferred to Louisville, Philadelphia and then onto Chicago in 1971 where he and Susan bought their house in Oak Brook, IL.  It was then that he decided to start his own company, Midwest Trane, later known as Midwest Mechanical, Inc.  He sold it in 1999 to Unicom and proudly purchased it back carrying on the Midwest Mechanical name.  Kenny was extremely active and loved volunteering his time.  He was involved in the Wellness House from its inception and is a Lifetime Trustee, served on the Oakbrook Plan Commission, member of the Hinsdale Hospital Foundation Board, the Board of Directors of Harris Bank Hinsdale (1985-2004), Director for Retail Properties of America, Inc., member of the Chicago Economic Club, member of The Valley Club of Montecito, the Hinsdale Golf Club, Butler National Golf Club and Salt Creek Club.   Kenny’s greatest passion was his family, friends and business relationships.  He was an avid competitor on the tennis court and golf course.  His claim to fame was winning the Bring-A-Ringer event at Salt Creek Club six times.  He was also a die-hard Cubs fan.  Kenny’s conservative views and family values were ingrained in his support for politicians sharing those views and he always loved a good discussion.  He is survived by his wife Susan, daughters Kim, Paige, and Shannon, grandchildren Margot, Wells, Megan, Ashley, Taylor and Chloe, his two nephews Swain (Ginger) Beard and Chris (Heather) Beard and their children, Bryce, Wes, MarySwain, Olivia and Camden and his extended family of Kitty Beard, Jane and Ted Nelson.  He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Buzz Beard.  There will be a private burial and a Celebration of Life in the future.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wellness House, Morton Arboretum or Young Life.  

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