Montpelier, VT Kenneth R. Sikora Sr., 89, of Montpelier died of natural causes August 19, 2018. He was born in Burlington on November 13, 1928, the seventh son of Alfred Paul and Nettie May Sikora. Ken graduated from Burlington High School in 1946, Bordentown Military Institute in 1947, and UVM in 1951. He began working during his high school years with his father and older brother at Sikora Shoe Repair Shop while his other older brothers were in the service during World War II. Ken was an accomplished trumpeter and baritone horn player. He played in the band at UVM and many years in the City Band. He performed "Taps" at many memorial services in Chittenden County for those who fell during the war, including his brother Fleury "Babe" Sikora, who was killed during the Battle of the Bulge. After graduating from UVM, he enlisted in the Army. Upon completing his tour of duty, Ken began his career in accounting at GE in Burlington, where he met his future wife Patricia Fitzpatrick. He then transferred to Fairchilds Camera and Instrument Division as a supervisor in the accounting department. In 1957, Ken and his family moved to Lyndonville where he became office manager at the Vermont Tap & Die Co. In 1960 he joined the Federal Highway Administration, relocating with his family to Montpelier in 1962. Ken was the Administrative Manager in the FHWA Vermont Division until his retirement in 1990. During his career at FHWA he was involved in the oversight of the development and construction of the interstate system in Vermont. Ken was also involved with modernizing highway project funding into the computer era. He was instrumental in navigating the bureaucratic "red tape" to permit excess interstate land to be available to the city to construct the Dog River Athletic fields. Kens side career as a tax professional spanned seven decades, having prepared tax returns through the 2018 tax season. After his retirement Ken worked with his son in the grocery business and in 1997 started work as a seafood associate for Shaws Supermarkets in Berlin Corners. Ken found great enjoyment associating with the customers and his co-workers for the next 20 years. Working at Shaws reminded him of his high school years at his dads business building a relationship with customers. Ken was dedicated to his involvement in the community. His many activities included scouting, Little League and other youth sports, the formation of the Montpelier Amateur Hockey Association and the Montpelier Hockey Rink. He was a long time member of the Country Club of Barre. He was a member of St. Augustines Church. Besides his wife Patricia, he is survived by his daughter Leatrice and her husband Dr. David Finck of West Stockbridge, MA; Kenneth (Rob) and his wife Ellen of Brookfield, Thomas of Montpelier, Patrick and his wife Betty of East Montpelier, Jamison and his wife Sara of Northfield; 20 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; his brother Mark Sikora, sisters/brothers-in-law Barbara F. Cobb, E. Jane Fitzpatrick, Kathy F. and Paul Michaud, Paul Danis, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers and their spouses, Richard, Harold and Rita, Alfred and Jackie, Fleury, Arthur and Marge; sisters-in law Ellen F. Danis and Elizabeth (Betty) Sikora, and brother-in-law Charles W. Cobb. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:00 am on November 13, 2018 at St. Augustines Church in Montpelier. There will be no calling hours. Internment will take place at the convenience of the family. In Lieu of Flowers, donations can be made in Kens name to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, St. Augustines Soup Kitchen or the Montpelier Food Bank.