Ambrose Xavier King was a man who deeply loved God, his church, his wife and family, his country, and his community.

The son of Herman and Irene (LeTendre) King, Ambrose was born on August 3, 1925.  He grew up near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and in 1943, soon after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Ambrose served on a destroyer in the Pacific and was honorably discharged in June 1946.

Ambrose married Marjorie Bushland on May 5, 1947. They were married for 61 years and were blessed with seven children, 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Professionally, Ambrose worked as a manager for Hobbs Supply Company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for ten years. He and Marge moved their family to Rochester in 1957, where he worked for United Electric Wholesale Company serving as a salesman and branch manager until his retirement in 1985.

In 1947, Ambrose was initiated into the Third Degree of the Knights of Columbus and in 1966, he was exemplified into the Fourth Degree of the Order. Ambrose was very active, holding all the chairs of both the Third and Fourth Degrees. He served as District Deputy for eight years and also served in various state council offices. He was elected to the Minnesota State Assembly Hall of Fame in 1987.

Ambrose also served his community. He was a founding member of the Breakfast on the Farm committee. For three years, he served on the Rochester Recreational Board. He was a volunteer basketball coach at the Youth Vocational Center in Rochester and was a registered Minnesota State High School League official for football, basketball, and baseball.

After his retirement, Ambrose worked three years as the parish administrator for St. Francis of Assisi Church. He and Marge then moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where he served as administrator at Our Lady of Souls Catholic Church for four years. They returned to Rochester and he continued to serve on various councils and committees at St. Pius X Catholic Church.  Ambrose always had time to serve as a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound and those in nursing homes.

Ambrose is survived by his daughters, Audrey Walter of Columbus, Wisconsin, Cathy Wagner of Rochester, Cammy (Michael) Kelley of Rochester, Candy (Harvey) Bergh of Byron, Connie King of Orinda, California, Carmen (Tom) Kane of Rochester; and his son, Chris (Rebecca) King of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is also survived by his sister, Phyllis Yeager of Rochester.   Ambrose was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother, two sisters, two sons-in-law, and a grandson.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be offered for Ambrose at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30th at St. Pius X Catholic Church with Rev. Russell Scepaniak officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29th at St. Pius X Catholic Church. The Knights of Columbus Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church one hour before the funeral mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Rochester with military rites provided by Rochester VFW Post 1215.