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Ken Lake
Born: 7/24/1929
Died: 6/15/2020
Age: 90
Community: Flushing , MI
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Kenneth Raymond Lake died surrounded by family on June 15, 2020 at Fostrian Court Assisted Living. He was 90 years old. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 12 noon on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at at St. Robert Catholic Church in Flushing, followed by burial at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 10-11:30am with Rosary at 11:30am.
One of his favorite quotes was from Robert Nathan: “There is no life... until you love and have been loved.” By this standard, he lived a full, wealthy, and generous life.
He was born on July 24, 1929 in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1947. He then studied at General Motors Institute, graduating with a degree in industrial engineering in 1952. At the time, GMI hosted dances for student nurses from Hurley Hospital School of Nursing. One of his friends set him up on a blind date with a beautiful nurse named Norma Alice Weiss. They married on September 15, 1951 and cherished each other even through her death on November 10, 2012.
He first worked for GM in statistical quality control analysis, and he was a member of the Statistical Quality Control Engineering Society Michigan Chapter. He supervised quality in Buick’s Final Assembly Plant from 1954 to 1967. In the 1970s he worked as the Assistant Superintendent of the Transmission Assembly Plant and the Metal Fabricating Plant. He was a manager in reliability engineering and worked in purchasing before retiring in 1988 as the manager of chassis and electrical.
Through GM, he met Jerry and Carolyn Chabica. The two couples were lifelong friends and often traveled together, including two trips to Germany, two to Hawaii, and one to Czechoslovakia. Jerry preceded him in death in October 2004.
Ken Lake freely volunteered his time and talent in his parish and in his community. He coached little league baseball for more than 20 years. He volunteered on the chain gang for Flushing High School football, and he served as Vice President for the Flushing High School athletic boosters. He participated in the St. Robert’s men’s club and served on the St. Robert’s school board for four years. A faithful Catholic all his life, he was a Eucharistic Minster and brought Communion to the sick and disabled.
He loved baseball. He learned the game listening to Harry Heilmann’s radio play-by-play for Tiger games on WXYZ. He was a lifelong Tigers fan, and he could be found on most summer evenings watching the Tigers on television.
He was the son of Raymond and Hazel Lake. He has one brother, Thomas, of West Branch, and one sister, Virginia July of Clio. He was preceded in death by his son, Richard (Lori). He is survived by eight of his nine children, Victor (Cynthia), James (Amy), Valerie, Julie Devine, Sharon (Tom) Sabourin, Lisa (Ken) Jansen, Robert (Terri), Amy (Bill) Goodman; 21 grandchildren, Alexis (Robert Hutchens), Eric, and Michael Lake, Stephanie Gates, Brian Lake, Michael Lavalle, Nathan Lavalle, Jessica Lawrence, Bertie Lake, Emily Mosher, Rachel Wittbrodt, Robert Kurtz III, Maeghan, Jimmy, and Daniel Devine, Caroline and Gabrielle Jansen, Dakota and Bailey Lake, and Colton and Grace Goodman; 15 great grandchildren, Anthony and Jacob Wittbrodt, Christopher and Bryn Lawrence, Gavin and Vivian Kurtz, Maddie, Jayden, Jordynn, Natalie, Isabella, and Daniel Devine, Jack and Thomas Gates, Miles and Elise Lavalle, Sloane Lavalle, Kenna Hutchens, and Isabelle Lake.
Ken Lake’s pride and joy was family and friends. A warmer host, a more doting grand parent, a more devoted husband would be rare indeed. We love him and miss him. |
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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6/20/2020 |
| Time: |
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10:00 AM |
| Visitation will be Saturday at the church from 10-11:30am with Rosary at 11:30am. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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6/20/2020 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Rossell Funeral Home
307 E Main
Flushing, MI 48433Get a Map to this location...
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| Official: |
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Fr. Anthony Brooks |
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