Keh Cheng Tsao passed peacefully on October 14, 2026.
Ken was born in China and immigrated to the US in 1954. He attended the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in Chicago, he met his wife Maryanne.
Dr. Tsao began his career at the South Dakota School of Mines in 1960 and then moved to Wisconsin to be a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1967. He pioneered the first 24x7 air quality monitoring station in the United States via a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 1972. Many of Dr. Tsao’s graduate students have gone on to work and serve with many state and federal agencies and boards. Dr. Tsao also initiated an internal combustion engine graduate research program with funding from state and federal agencies. Research included combustion and engine emissions, efficiency, and alternative fuels. He also initiated power plant particulate emission control research while partnering with WEPCO (now WE-Energies) which had coal fueled power plants at the time. This helped lead conversion to compressed natural gas as the fuel source. He published over 50 papers in many areas and was awarded two patents during his career.
Ken, along with his wife, Maryanne, was very active in the community and a life-long educator. Together they established a Chinese language school in Milwaukee and the first Organization of Chinese Americans Scholarships for graduating high school seniors. About 170 scholarships have been awarded and continue to this day.
He was active at his grandchildren’s school, Yinghua Academy. “Tsao Yeye” (Chinese for Grandpa Tsao) dedicated his time to Yinghua Academy: taught calligraphy and tai chi, exercised in the playground while doing recess duty, opened containers during lunch, sang along during academic performances, and handed out apples and oranges for Chinese New Year.
He was also known among friends for always wanting to “talk to the kids”, spontaneous bouts of singing, and various quotes: “water is good”, “cookies are junk food?”, “first time in my life.” He continued to surprise his family and friends by walking outside to chase the turkeys without his walker/cane, reading the Wall Street Journal daily, being a newsaholic and always enjoying a scoop of ice cream in the evening.
Ken is survived by his children, Audrey Tsao, Gloria Tsao, and Wynee (David) Igel and his grandchildren Caitlin and Jacqueline Igel.
A visitation will be held at Schmidt and Bartelt in Mequon (10280 N Port Washington Rd, Mequon, WI 53092) on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10 am with a memorial service to follow at the funeral home beginning at 11 am. Per the family’s wishes, a private burial will be held following the service at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Yinghua Academy at http://bit.ly/TsaoMemorial or a charity of your choice.
