- Date Of Death: July 23, 2017
- State: Michigan
Kenneth “Kenny” W. Lessard, age 86, of Gladstone, passed away Sunday, July 23, 2017 at Christian Park Health Care Center in Escanaba.
Kenny was born August 22, 1930 in Gladstone, MI the son of Walter and Alma (Sebeck) Lessard. Kenny was a 1949 graduate of Gladstone High School. After high school, he joined the National Guard. He married Mary Bulchak on October 22, 1951. The had one daughter, Susan. Ken started working at Super Value in Gladstone, becoming their produce manager. He was a member of the 328 chapter of Teamsters. Kenny built the first indoor, in ground swimming pool in Gladstone. May friends and family members enjoyed it very much.
After retiring at age 56, he went on to “Kenny Shop.” There are a lot of kitchens that were remodeled by him. If you brought him an idea on how to build something, he would build it. In later years, he built wooden cradles for the girls and wooden tool boxes for the boys. He later donated them to St. VIncent DePaul. Kenny had many friends, with his wife Mary. They went on many trips to Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Aruba, and also a couple of cruises. They went with two other couples, the Walbacks and the Wesoloskis’, playing pinochle to fund their trips.
Kenny was an original. He would do just about anything for anyone. He was a husband, father, and grandfather. He was a carpenter, coin collector, drinker of 4J’s coffee and a friend to a lot of people.
He was a member of Wildlife Unlimited where he was able to put his talents to work. He built a sled with the Wildlife Unlimited logo on it to be raffled off at their banquet. He taught the neighbors, Butch Irving and Tom Povich, a lot about carpentree, and Butch about potato sausage making. “Doc” VanBrocklin was his cohort. What one didn’t think of making, the other one did.
In addition to his loving wife, Mary of 65 years, he is survived by:
1 Daughter: Susan Timmer of Gladstone, MI
2 Grandchildren: Lee Timmer of Gladstone, MI
Liberty Timmer of Marinette, WI
1 Brother: Lloyd (Doris) Lessard
1 Sister: Madaline (Conrad) Pratt of Escanaba, MI with their children
1 Sister-In-Law: Shirley Nelson/Larsen
Niece: Francene (John) “Londo” Berglund
Nephews: Chris Londo, Gary (Terry) Nelson, Greg (Julie) Nelson
Special Friends: Terry “Doc” VanBrocklin, Tom and Carol Povich, Butch and Carla Irving, and Lucy Jolly
In addition to his parents, Kenny was preceded in death by:
1 Brother: Francis Lessard
2 Brother-In-Laws: Edward Nelson and Gerald Londo
