Kenneth Antone, was born on his home tribal settlement- The Oneida of the Thames Settlement near London, Ontario, Canada, May 29 ^th , 1925, to Joseph & Evelyn Antone and was the youngest brother to sister Hazel (Antone) Cornelius and older brother Russell Antone.

As a young boy growing up on the Oneida Settlement, Ken was forced to attend a government founded Mount Elgin Indian Residential School, located across from the Oneida Nation of the Thames River in Muncey, Ontario, Canada. Mt. Elgin was the only residential school in the province for many years and operated by The United Church of Canada. There, he grew up in an often-harsh environment where they spent a minimum of 8 months living with other Indigenous children from reservations and settlements throughout Ontario. Ken would often tell of the poor treatment they received from medical care, poor quality food usually with very little meat in their diet. They were also forced to undertake hard labor on the residential school farm, endure physical abuse, have their hair cut, and were strictly forbidden to speak their language.

Ken spoke about how the residential school was operated much like a "prison camp". He recalls his determination to "sneak out" of the school from time to time. He and his friends would hide, then cross the river and run several miles to his grandmother's home at Oneida. Once there, she would prepare them a big meal to enjoy, then they would sneak back to the school before the school authorities realized they were missing.

Ken's father was brought up strictly in the Iroquois' religious beliefs of The Long House False Face Society. It was the belief of the Native people that these specifically chosen ones would serve as spiritual leaders and healers of their tribe. Ken was chosen to wear the Corn Husk mask as a leader of that healing society as a young boy.

Later in life, Kenneth would take work locally in the city of London, often doing various tradesman jobs in carpentry, painting homes and buildings throughout the area.

Dad came to Christ through the convicting power of a dear praying Grandmother....Louise Day. He accepted Christ while attending a city-wide evangelistic crusade held at an auditorium in downtown London on April 20 ^th , 1947. The evangelist was none other than the famous Bible teacher and evangelist, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. Ken would always delight in sharing about that experience that glorious night. He stated, "I was invited by the pastor and his wife from my grandmother's home church to attend this crusade. I remember coming into the packed auditorium. I always preferred to sit in the back rows. However, the pastor's wife marched down the aisle until we got to the second row, with me sitting right on the aisle."

Kenneth remembered the conviction he felt as he heard the Gospel preached that night. He didn't remember too much of what was said because the Holy Spirit was dealing with him in a mighty way and convicting him to accept Christ into his heart. Ken stated, "As the evangelist gave the invitation, I was convicted to step forward. But my left foot felt like lead. I lifted it and got into the aisle, my other foot followed, and I went forward and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart and life. Though the auditorium was filled to capacity, it may have seemed a disappointment to the evangelist and those Christians in attendance, as only two people came forward that evening....and I was one of them!" As Ken left the building that night, he shared that he had found what he was looking for by inviting Jesus into his life. He always gleefully recalled that as he began to leave the auditorium that night to walk home to his one bedroom apartment, he said, " I reached into my shirt pocket and found a pack of cigarettes . I grabbed them and said to myself, I don't need these anymore and quickly threw them across the lawn and strolled down the sidewalk singing a song I had heard for the first time that night....
"Thank you Lord, for saving my Soul, Thank you Lord for making me whole. Thank you, Lord, for giving to me, thy great salvation so rich and free!"

From that time forward, he felt called to become a preacher of the Gospel among his own people. After completing Bible School at the London Bible Institute in London, Ontario, he went on to become the first Native pastor at his home church on the Oneida Settlement.

Soon afterward, he would meet his future wife Shirley Claus Antone and together after their marriage, they traveled as part of the Native evangelistic team, the original Claus Indian Family. In 1952, Ken and Shirley also helped initiate the founding of the American Indian Crusade, Inc. under the leadership of Shirley's brother, Mohawk Evangelist Tom Claus. The launching of this missionary evangelistic and church planting ministry was one of the first Native-led Christian missions' group in North America. In later years, Ken served on the AIC Board of Directors and was elected as the General Director in 1980.

In 1959, Ken and his family moved from Ontario to Oklahoma City to pioneer a mission church among the Kickapoo Tribe. They also traveled throughout North America sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ...not only in great evangelistic crusades and rallies, but to hundreds of tribes across Native America! They also pioneered and pastored Native churches and began their own evangelistic team with their children Kathy, Torrey, Paul and Karen. Together, they traveled as a family for many decades, traveling throughout North America and Internationally as the "Antone Indian Family" in their large tour bus. Even though the family was in demand for large concerts and sang at prominent venues and churches such as the 1976 Montreal World Summer Olympics, the Grand 'Ole Opry in Nashville, TN, Expo '87 World's Fair in Vancouver and some of the largest churches throughout North America, Ken always made sure that they didn't stray far from their original calling...to reach their own Native people to Christ! Many people called him "the Indian Billy Graham", after reaching many Native people for Christ.

After the passing of Ken's wife, Shirley, Ken married Janis Wood. She and her husband, Ron, along with their son, were called to Oklahoma in 1974 to work among the Kickapoo Tribe near McLoud, OK. She worked there as a missionary for over 17 years. Her husband was called home not long after Shirley was called home. Ken and Janis, with the same heart for Native evangelism, married and traveled sharing the Gospel throughout North America.

In 2005, Ken was recognized and honored to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from the prestigious Briercrest University & Seminary in Sask., Canada for his many years of effective ministry among the Tribes of North America, as well as numerous awards of recognition for his years as a missionary statesmen.
He was also privileged to minister with renowned Bible teachers and evangelists such as Billy Graham, Dr. Torrey Johnson, Dr. Billy Kim, Hal Lindsay, Dr. E.V. Hill, Dr. Oswald and Paul B. Smith, Franklin Graham and many others. He was also selected as a Christian Native leader to attend the Billy Graham invitational "Amsterdam 2000" Conference in Holland for World evangelists.

Toward the end of Ken's ministry travels, he still exemplified his passion to reach souls for Christ just as he did after he accepted the Lord into his heart and life.

Through video, his teachings and sermons have reached hundreds of thousands of people around the world. His life and testimony to the thousands he has met and those who have come to Christ under his ministry, have forever changed so many lives!

Kenneth Antone is preceded in death by his grandmother Louise Day, father and mother Joseph and Evelyn Antone, brother Russell Antone and sister Hazel (Antone) Cornelius.
Also preceded in death by wife Shirley (Claus) Antone in 1989.

Kenneth is survived by wife Janis of the home.

Children: Kathy Antone, Torrey (Gloria), Paul (Carol), and Karen Antone

Grandchildren: Tia (Antone) Nitzel, Timothy Antone (Amber)

Great Grandchildren: Taylor, Kaden, Colt and Kali

Stepfamily Members: Brad & Christine Wood and sons, Nathan and Joseph Wood.

The family prefers memorials to Integris Hospice ( https://integrisok.com ), Kickapoo Friends Center ( http://www.kickapoofriendscenter.org ), and The American Indian Crusade (email, AICTV.org@gmail.com , PO Box 21131, Oklahoma City, OK, 73156)