Dream Car, Dream Volunteer

Kenney Fengler has considered himself a “certified car nut” since age 14.

He was born in Tacoma in 1931. After graduating from Stadium High School and working in a service station for a couple of years, Kenney married Pat, his wife of nearly 65 years.

Kenney calls himself a romantic: He took his new bride to the San Francisco Hot Rod Show for their honeymoon in 1951.

He clarifies: “We took two weeks and drove to California. We had a wonderful time. The Hot Rod Show was just one day.”

“Don’t let him kid you,” Pat interjects. “We looked at cars the whole way. We still look at cars. He likes cars!”

Kenney’s first car was a 1930 Model A Ford. “I was in high school, about 15 years old. It was a junker,” he admits. “But I learned how to work on cars. They were pretty simple back then. All you needed in those days was a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and a crescent wrench. In fact, Ford used to provide a basic tool kit with their cars, with the word “Ford” cast right into the tool.”

Shortly after getting married Kenney was drafted into the Army and served in Korea. He made it home in 1953 and embarked on a series of jobs including several years at a mill and a pop bottling company. After that he went to work for himself, investing in and fixing up rental properties.

“I finally decided to go back to school. I got a degree in Technical Arts at Bates Technical School. With that degree, at age 47, I got a job with Tacoma’s light department. I was there for 30 years until I retired seven years ago at age 77,” says Kenney.

“Retirement took some getting used to,” he admits. “Before retirement, I was always busy doing something.”

That was when he discovered his passion for volunteering at LeMay America’s Car Museum, which opened at its Tacoma location three years ago this month.

But Kenney had already been volunteering for the museum for four years before they moved into their fancy digs near the Tacoma Dome. “They were open on weekends at a warehouse in Fife—it basically served as a storage unit until the museum opened,” he explained.

An article by Paul Duchene described opening day: “…3,000 people and 500 cars assembled outside LeMay America’s Car Museum for opening ceremonies. Before the day was out, an estimated 10,000 auto enthusiasts had visited the museum…a massive $65 million, 165,000-square foot building on four floors The museum’s four levels are accessed by sloping galleries at the side, like the interior of a parking garage, which makes changing exhibits relatively easy. Its avowed aim is to illuminate the link between Americans and their cars through individual stories.”

“I just loved working as a docent and museum educator. I consider volunteering a privilege,” says Kenney. “It’s fun. Everyone has something to offer and anyone can volunteer, no matter your knowledge of cars or your abilities.”

Kenney still volunteers with the museum but now, because of health issues, he focuses on activities he can take home, like fixing pinewood derby cars and other kits for kids and the education department.

“People coming to LeMays should know it’s not your typical museum where displays don’t change often,” explains Kenney. “We’re in constant change. We have six areas organized by theme, with 250-300 cars and motorcycles on display at any given time. Half of them are on loan from private collections. It keeps it interesting. The theme of this museum is to celebrate America’s love affair with the automobile. Even if you are not a car person, coming to the museum brings back good memories.”

Kenney has a lot of great memories of his favorite car, the Ford Mustang. “When the Mustang first came out in 1965, I wanted it but couldn’t afford it. Then, in 1973, I was able to buy a ‘65 Mustang convertible. It is painted yellow, with a black top and white upholstery. It was our family car. Eventually, as our family grew, we needed a larger car. But I kept the Mustang—it has always been garaged and well-cared for and is still in excellent order. I paid $900 dollars for it in ‘73 and it was recently appraised at $25,000!”

He had the car appraised when he donated it to America’s Car Museum. Jana Wennstrom, the museum’s volunteer coordinator, reports that the car will be raffled off at the museum’s gala at the end of this month. “Kenney is pretty amazing,” she adds.

He and Pat still live in Tacoma. The couple has five children, nine grandchildren and seven great grand-children.

“They are pretty excited that our family’s Mustang is going to be auctioned off at the end of June!” reports Kenney.

LeMay America’s Car Museum’s “Wheels and Heels Annual Gala” will be held on June 26. Other notable events this summer include “Second Thursday Cruise Ins” (free and open to all); “Hood-Up to celebrate Father’s Day” June 16-24; ride in vehicles from the museum’s collection at “Take A Spin” on July 21, August 13, 29 and September 17; free “Drive-In Movies” June 27, July 11, August 8 & 29 held on the museum’s field; “Vintage Motorcycle Festival August 22; Concours d’Elegance Sept 13. Plus special rotating exhibits. For more information about LeMay America’s Car Museum, call 253-779-8490 or visit www.lemaymuseum.org .