had two books published. He enjoyed playing Santa Claus and was lovingly known by his nieces and nephews as "Kenny Claus". Survivors include his wife, Becky Merchant; stepson, Jeremiah Slagter; step-grandchildren, Tyler Slagter and Kylia Slagter; his mother, Janet Merchant; sister, Kathy (Dave) Schable; brother, Rick (Deb) Merchant; sister-in-law, Joyce Merchant; sisters, Barbara (Rami) Mawlawi, Jo Marie (Lee) Madson and Nancy Schambach; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Tim Merchant; stepson, Nicolas Slagter; grandparents, Joseph and Florence Hall and Edward and Mayme Merchant; and a brother, Tom Merchant.