September 22, 1960 – June 5, 2023
Remembering Ken Haenel
If you’ve been within range of Ken’s booming voice at the annual Austin Empty Bowl you know there was a lot of heart behind his “HOT SOUP!” announcement. Ken loved Empty Bowl and worked behind the scenes as well to make the event a success. As with everything else he was involved in, Ken shared generously with AEBP his energy, his problem solving skills, and his infectious enthusiasm. In 2022 while in the midst of recovery from a double lung transplant, Ken called the team during the event to let us know he was thinking of us and sad to be missing one of his favorite gatherings.
Ken loved music, especially jazz, and played the bass trombone. He loved fishing and being outside whenever possible. He wanted to leave this world better than he found it and he succeeded.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Cindy Haenel, and by his sisters Tana Walsh and Ruth Beddoe. Ken requested that anyone wishing to remember him donate to the Austin Empty Bowl Project, Ocean Conservancy, RIP Medical Debt, The Southern Poverty Law Center, or another charity of your choice.