Rocketry Planet

NORTHVILLE, Michigan USA — Lifetime Northville, Michigan, resident Ken Zeuner, prefect for the Tripoli Rocketry Association's Michigan Team-1 prefecture and a member of the organization's Tripoli Advisory Panel (TAP), died at work on December 20, 2009. The cause of death is believed to be a heart attack.

At the joint Michigan Team-1/Michiana Rocketry Three Oaks launch held April 17-19, 2009, Zeuner, right, is joined by Fred Ziegler of Fade To Black Rocket Works. Photo: Tripoli Michiana.

Zeuner wowed this year's LDRS crowd at Potter, New York, with his colossal bottle rocket. The giant upscale was patterned after a traditional Chinese bottle rocket, featuring a 98mm motor mount and a full recovery system. Photo: Brett Keller.

Known to everyone as the heavy lifter of his prefecture, Zeuner was always one of the first people to arrive and the last to leave his local launches, sacrificing his own time so that others might be able to participate in and enjoy his hobby.

Zeuner served for years as prefect of Michigan Team-1, one of the four Michigan prefectures of the Tripoli Rocketry Association. In addition, Zeuner was one of 109 people Tripoli selected for their advanced knowledge and experience to make up the Tripoli Advisory Panel, the group of individuals that guide Tripoli members in the safe construction and flight of Level 3 advanced high power rockets.

Always giving of himself, spreading the gospel of hobby rocketry, that is Zeuner's legacy. His love and affection for hobby rocketry was known to all, and his commitment to the sport will be greatly missed.

"Ken's passing is especially notable because, in addition to serving as our Prefect for many years, he was an avid high power model rocket enthusiast and devoted a great deal of his own time and energy into the club," said Michigan Team-1 secretary/treasurer Ed Boyd in his announcement to the prefecture's members regarding Zeuner's death.

"Ken's enthusiasm and leadership of Michigan Team-1 and his love for the rocketry hobby were known by all," Boyd added, "and we will miss him deeply."

Zeuner was born to George (deceased) and Evelyn Zeuner and shared childhood with his sister Carol.

Final arrangements for Zeuner are being handled by Casterline Funeral Home, Inc., located at 122 West Dunlap, Northville, Michigan, where a memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 29, 2009, from 5:00PM until 8:00PM.  The Zeuner family has requested in lieu of flowers for friends to make contributions in his memory to the Southfield, Michigan, Salvation Army located at 16130 Northland Drive, Southfield, Michigan 48075.

Zeuner was 55 years old.