LYNNWOOD — The little wooden box probably didn’t mean much to the burglars who broke into the house on Lake Stickney Wednesday morning.
That’s where Ken and Judy Heggen spent their final years. Inside the sealed wooden box was something precious to their children: the cremated remains of their father.
Ken Heggen, 67, died of cancer Oct. 18 inside the S. Lake Stickney Drive house.
“They did take my father, probably because he was in a pretty little box,” said Karen Heggen of California, one of the Heggens’ six children.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the burglary, spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.
One of her four sisters discovered the burglary when she entered the house Wednesday morning, Karen Heggen said.
“They left through the basement doors and drove off while she was still in the house,” she said.
Judy Heggen died of cancer in March, Karen Heggen said. Both of her parents were under hospice care and died at home.
Ken and Judy Heggen bought the house 10 years ago and had remodeled it.
“That was their retirement home,” Karen Heggen said. “They gave my father six months to live; he lasted nine.”
Ken Heggen owned Ken Heggen Construction for years, his daughter said. A boating enthusiast, he’d been a commodore with the Puget Sound Yacht Club.
Ken Heggen sold the yacht to build the house, “so it was a great sacrifice,” Karen Heggen said.
Their mother ran the Lake Stickney Community Club for many years, she added.
“When Dad died, we were able to get our lives back a little bit,” Karen Heggen said. “We were just separating things for the grandchildren when (burglars) took it all.”
Karen Heggen said the family is just coming to grips with the loss.
“I think all the grandkids are in agreement: we just want dad back,” she said. “His ashes were to be spread in Puget Sound.”
Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429, ohalpert@heraldnet.com.
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