Baumgarten, Ken

Kenneth Robert Baumgarten, age 55, of Petersburg, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2013 at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.

He is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter, Nicole, age 18; a son, Kyle, age 18; mother, Lorraine; and two uncles, Herb (wife, Jane) Baumgarten, of Coos Bay, Ore., and Dan (Shirley) Buckley, Clarksville, Mo. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Baumgarten.

Ken served as State’s Attorney for Menard County for 15 years. He previously served as Legal Counsel to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. From 1985 to 1993, he worked for the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor office, where he was the lead prosecutor for a special drug unit. From 1993 through 1996, he served as Assistant State’s Attorney in Sangamon County.

Baumgarten co-authored a number of bills, which became state law. These included the Illinois Asset Forfeiture law which is used throughout Illinois to strip illegally earned money and property purchased with drug money from drug dealers. As State’s Attorney for Menard County, Baumgarten wrote a law to shield counties from inmate medical expenses.

Baumgarten received his law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. He was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the National College of District Attorneys. He was currently serving on a special committee of felony DUI prosecutors and law enforcement officers to develop a training protocol for statewide use.

Ken was a small plane pilot and enjoyed flying on a regular basis. He was an active member and past-president of the Athens Lions Club. He was an active member of the Petersburg Kiwanis.

A memorial gathering, where family will receive friends, will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 PM on Friday, December 13, 2013 at the Athens Christian Church in Athens.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Athens Christian Church in Athens, Illinois. Memorials can be made to the college fund for the Baumgarten children.