Baumgarten died of pulmonary embolism

PETERSBURG — A visitation will be held Friday for Kenneth R. Baumgarten, the Menard County state’s attorney who died unexpectedly Friday due to a pulmonary embolism.

Baumgarten, 55, of rural Petersburg, also was a Republican candidate for Menard County resident circuit judge. Last month, he suffered a broken left ankle and a broken bone in his right foot when a horse fell on him.

A press release from the Sangamon County coroner’s office Monday indicated that Baumgarten’s death was an accident due to the earlier injury.

Merle Kirby, chairman of the Menard County Board, said Baumgarten was well-liked throughout the community.

“He was a 24/7 guy as far as the state’s attorney’s job,” Kirby said. “When you are a one-man shop, you handle everything. You handle the county board’s problems and the office-holders’ problems. He was quick to respond to everything he was challenged with. He was a super hard-working guy.”

After the injury, Baumgarten returned to work in a wheelchair.

Appellate Justice Carol Pope worked with Baumgarten for 10 years while she was the circuit judge in Menard County.

“He was always civil in the courtroom,” Pope said. “Some lawyers have a tendency to get hot-headed. I didn’t see that at all with Ken,”

Pope added that outside of court, Baumgarten liked to talk about his family.

“He was always very proud of his children and talked exceedingly highly of his wife and family,” Pope said.

Since Baumgarten was the only lawyer in the state’s attorney’s office, Menard County officials are working with the Illinois Appellate Prosecutor’s Office to ensure the county’s court cases are covered.

Eventually, the county’s Republicans will recommend someone to serve out the remainder of Baumgarten’s four-year term through 2016. It will be up to the county board to approve that person.

A memorial gathering will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Athens Christian Church, 1411 E. Illinois 29. Memorial Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Athens Christian Church.

Mott & Henning Funeral Home in Athens is handling arrangements.

Baumgarten had been state’s attorney for more than 15 years. He was one of three candidates running for the judge post left vacant by the move of Pope to the 4th District Appellate Court. His opponents were Assistant Illinois Attorney General Mike Atterberry and Gabe Grosboll, an administrative law judge with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Baumgarten earlier was legal counsel to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, and he worked for the state’s attorney’s appellate prosecutor and the Sangamon County state’s attorney’s office.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, and two children.

Contact John Reynolds: 788-1524, john.reynolds@sj-r.com, twitter.com/JohnReynoldsSJR