Kenneth Edward Tague

Kenneth (Ken) Edward Tague passed away on July 8, 2024, at the age of 65 at his home surrounded by his family. 

Visitation will be held from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at GT Church, 500 South 27th St., Decatur, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at the church. Pastor Matt Samuels will officiate. Burial will follow in the Macon County Memorial Park Cemetery in Harristown, IL. The Edwards Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. 

Ken’s birthday was July 2, 1959. He was proceeded in death by his parents Alfred E. and Doris A. (Wetzel) Tague. He and Patricia (Patty) D. Campbell were married on July 1, 1989, in Decatur, IL.

Ken’s family consists of his wife, Patty Tague of Springfield, IL, one daughter, Ashley E. Miller and her husband Sean of Springfield, IL, one granddaughter, Molly E. Miller, three brothers, Keith Tague and his wife Janelle of New Lenox, IL, Michael Tague and his wife Ulrike of Murray, KY and David Tague and his wife Cathy of Melissa, TX, and sister-in-law Vickie Giger of Pottsboro, TX. He also loved all of his numerous nieces and nephews. A special recognition goes out to all of the family and friends who visited him after his ALS diagnosis as well as the special care provided to him by his caregiver, Jodi. 

Ken’s academic journey was marked by dedication and hard work. Ken graduated from Clinton Prairie High School in Frankfort, IN, before attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. In 1981, he proudly received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.

Ken had a fulfilling career that spanned several decades. He worked at various establishments, including BF Goodrich in Henry, IL, Borden Chemicals and Plastics in Illiopolis, IL, where he served as the Plant Manager, and ADM in Decatur, IL, where he retired in 2019 as a Process Safety Manager. While at ADM he earned a U.S. Patent No. 9,481,609 as a co-inventor of the process to make Heteromorphic Lysine Feed Granules. Even after retirement, Ken continued to share his expertise by starting his own consulting business, Tague Total Process Safety, LLC., partnering with organizations such as American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS). He made it his professional mission to educate and share his personal stories around process safety to make workplaces as safe as possible. The CCPS dedicated a book, Guidelines for Process Safety Knowledge Management, for all his hard work and dedication to his profession.

Outside of his professional life, Ken pursued various hobbies and interests. He was an avid fisherman, skilled at making wreaths, and he enjoyed golfing and swimming. One of his greatest joys was getting to take care of and play with his granddaughter, Molly, and walking his granddog, Ellie. 

He was a longstanding member at GT Church in Decatur since 1988. Ken was also recognized as an Emeritus member of the CCPS and held a certification of Certified Safety Professional. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Team Gleason Foundation (Team Gleason - Steve Gleason - ALS), which is an organization dedicated to serving individuals with ALS and provided various technologies, equipment, and care services to Ken after his diagnosis. https://teamgleason.org/