Kenneth Allen Hopf

Kenneth Allen Hopf, age 71, of Madison, Wisconsin, and formerly of Mountain View, California, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2024, at his home in Madison, with his son and wife at his side. Ken suffered from stroke and hydrocephalus, all in the last three years. 

Ken was born on October 17, 1952, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Vernon H. and R. Lois (Steadman) Hopf. He grew up in Kenosha, Milwaukee, and in Madison, graduating from James Madison Memorial High School, in Madison, in 1970. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he majored in music and philosophy. Kenneth was interested in classical music and dreamt of a career in the field of musical arts as a pianist. After graduation, he attended Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. In 1990, Ken also received an associate degree in computer science from Mission College in Santa Clara, California.

In the late 1970s, he served as Director of the Wisconsin Chapter of the Libertarian Party. 

On January 1, 1996, Kenneth married Marilyn Ramos. Together, they had one son. 

He spent his career as a programmer and engineer at various technology firms in the Silicon Valley/San Francisco Bay Area, where he lived for forty-three years, primarily in Mountain View. 

Ken had interests in many areas of life. He was interested in music and art, philosophy, science and technology, religion, mathematics, foreign languages, especially German, books and movies, and politics. Ken was very interested in economics and spent his life studying F. A. Hayek and his works. Sir Karl Popper, philosopher of scientific discovery, was another of Ken’s heroes. In 2017, Ken provided a review of a portion of David Miller’s book on critical rationalism entitled "Out of Error". He loved history, generally, and particularly the history of American political conflict and strategic warfare. He was currently writing a book about epistemology. 

Ken could easily converse on many topics and would if you let him. He was loved for his keen sense of humor that spared no one and could be uproariously hilarious. 

Kenneth is survived by his loving family: wife, Marilyn, and son, Tristan, both of Madison, Wisconsin. He is also survived by a brother, Kevin (Jane), of Eugene, Oregon, and his sister, Georgianna Hopf, of Madison, Wisconsin. Kenneth is also survived by his nieces and nephew: Sable, Kali, and Dane, his stepmother, Arleen, and many cousins. Ken is also survived by cherished friends: Eric, Robert, Robin, all of Madison; Frank of Zurich, Switzerland; and Kathy and her family, of Santa Cruz, California. 

Ken was preceded in death by his parents. 

The family would like to thank Dr. Ezequiel Dario Goldschmidt, Neurosurgeon, of the University of California San Francisco; Dr. Christine Hessler, Neurologist, of El Camino Hospital, in Mountain View, California; Dr. Amer Khalil, Neurosurgeon, also of the San Francisco Bay Area; and nurse, Jinny Lee, for their expert and caring support. 

A private funeral service for the family will be held in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on May 10, 2024. A celebration of life will be held later. 

I love you Dad. 

If desired, please make donations to the San Francisco Symphony at (https://www.sfsymphony.org/Donate-Volunteer). Donations can also be made directly to the family in the Pilipino tradition.