Kenneth D. Craven, 79, of Burlington
Township, passed away on Friday,
November 3, 2017 at home. .
Kenneth was born on September 30, 1938 in Union City, MI to George S Craven ( fag #5806966 ) and Arabella Mead Craven ( fag #8037131 ) .
He grew up in Sherwood, where he did farming. After graduation with the Union City High School Class of 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 13 years. Additionally, he took coursework in welding and meteorology at Kellogg Community College. A talented welder and machinist, Ken could design or fix anything. He operated an RV park in Arkansas, ran a welding machine shop and contracted with NASA in Florida, built oil rigs in Oklahoma and served as a purchasing manager for York International, which is now Johnson Controls.
At his shop in Florida, Ken built the world’s largest bulldozer, which was used to clear the Rodman Pool portion of the canal across Florida. He had hoped to sell it to the government to use it in place of Agent Orange to clear foliage during the Vietnam War. In his years in Florida, Ken served as fire chief in Lady Lake, president of the county fireman’s association, and as police commissioner for Lady Lake. He was elected as mayor of Lake Lady from 1972-1978 and had a street, “Craven’s Way,” named after him. Ken was named in the 1979 “Personalities in the South” and featured in the 1973-74 edition of “Who’s Who in Florida.” He also appeared in “International Autobiographies,” published in Cambridge, England.
Despite his many achievements, he was frustrated with the current political climate in the United States and wished he could have somehow brought the country back together. In February of 2003, Ken married Ruth Ann (Crane) Seifke, to whom he had been engaged in high school. They spent the first two years of their marriage as “gypsies,” traveling before making their home in Burlington Township and wintering in Donna, TX. Ken was always quick with a quip or a solution.
In his leisure, he enjoyed working on tractors and competing at tractor pulls. Ken is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; his children, Keith (Dawn) Craven of Burlington, Tammey Craven of Sturgis and Patrick Craven of Norman, OK; his step-children Alan (Julie) Seifke of Burlington and Rhonda (Tom) Kribs of Caledonia; a grandchild, Matt Craven of Burr Oak; step-grandchildren, Alex Kribs and Ben Kribs of Caledonia, J.R. (Tori) Kugler of Quincy and Natasha Kugler of Coldwater; a great-grand-daughter, Zahanna Craven of Burr Oak; and step-great-granddaughters Haley Wilson and Alyssa Wilson of Coldwater and Lorelai and Kali Kugler of Quincy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Mary Craven (infant, 1941) and Florence Riley ( fag #5803901 )
Township, passed away on Friday,
November 3, 2017 at home. .
Kenneth was born on September 30, 1938 in Union City, MI to George S Craven ( fag #5806966 ) and Arabella Mead Craven ( fag #8037131 ) .
He grew up in Sherwood, where he did farming. After graduation with the Union City High School Class of 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 13 years. Additionally, he took coursework in welding and meteorology at Kellogg Community College. A talented welder and machinist, Ken could design or fix anything. He operated an RV park in Arkansas, ran a welding machine shop and contracted with NASA in Florida, built oil rigs in Oklahoma and served as a purchasing manager for York International, which is now Johnson Controls.
At his shop in Florida, Ken built the world’s largest bulldozer, which was used to clear the Rodman Pool portion of the canal across Florida. He had hoped to sell it to the government to use it in place of Agent Orange to clear foliage during the Vietnam War. In his years in Florida, Ken served as fire chief in Lady Lake, president of the county fireman’s association, and as police commissioner for Lady Lake. He was elected as mayor of Lake Lady from 1972-1978 and had a street, “Craven’s Way,” named after him. Ken was named in the 1979 “Personalities in the South” and featured in the 1973-74 edition of “Who’s Who in Florida.” He also appeared in “International Autobiographies,” published in Cambridge, England.
Despite his many achievements, he was frustrated with the current political climate in the United States and wished he could have somehow brought the country back together. In February of 2003, Ken married Ruth Ann (Crane) Seifke, to whom he had been engaged in high school. They spent the first two years of their marriage as “gypsies,” traveling before making their home in Burlington Township and wintering in Donna, TX. Ken was always quick with a quip or a solution.
In his leisure, he enjoyed working on tractors and competing at tractor pulls. Ken is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; his children, Keith (Dawn) Craven of Burlington, Tammey Craven of Sturgis and Patrick Craven of Norman, OK; his step-children Alan (Julie) Seifke of Burlington and Rhonda (Tom) Kribs of Caledonia; a grandchild, Matt Craven of Burr Oak; step-grandchildren, Alex Kribs and Ben Kribs of Caledonia, J.R. (Tori) Kugler of Quincy and Natasha Kugler of Coldwater; a great-grand-daughter, Zahanna Craven of Burr Oak; and step-great-granddaughters Haley Wilson and Alyssa Wilson of Coldwater and Lorelai and Kali Kugler of Quincy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Mary Craven (infant, 1941) and Florence Riley ( fag #5803901 )
Kenneth D. Craven, 79, of Burlington
Township, passed away on Friday,
November 3, 2017 at home. .
Kenneth was born on September 30, 1938 in Union City, MI to George S Craven ( fag #5806966 ) and Arabella Mead Craven ( fag #8037131 ) .
He grew up in Sherwood, where he did farming. After graduation with the Union City High School Class of 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 13 years. Additionally, he took coursework in welding and meteorology at Kellogg Community College. A talented welder and machinist, Ken could design or fix anything. He operated an RV park in Arkansas, ran a welding machine shop and contracted with NASA in Florida, built oil rigs in Oklahoma and served as a purchasing manager for York International, which is now Johnson Controls.
At his shop in Florida, Ken built the world’s largest bulldozer, which was used to clear the Rodman Pool portion of the canal across Florida. He had hoped to sell it to the government to use it in place of Agent Orange to clear foliage during the Vietnam War. In his years in Florida, Ken served as fire chief in Lady Lake, president of the county fireman’s association, and as police commissioner for Lady Lake. He was elected as mayor of Lake Lady from 1972-1978 and had a street, “Craven’s Way,” named after him. Ken was named in the 1979 “Personalities in the South” and featured in the 1973-74 edition of “Who’s Who in Florida.” He also appeared in “International Autobiographies,” published in Cambridge, England.
Despite his many achievements, he was frustrated with the current political climate in the United States and wished he could have somehow brought the country back together. In February of 2003, Ken married Ruth Ann (Crane) Seifke, to whom he had been engaged in high school. They spent the first two years of their marriage as “gypsies,” traveling before making their home in Burlington Township and wintering in Donna, TX. Ken was always quick with a quip or a solution.
In his leisure, he enjoyed working on tractors and competing at tractor pulls. Ken is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; his children, Keith (Dawn) Craven of Burlington, Tammey Craven of Sturgis and Patrick Craven of Norman, OK; his step-children Alan (Julie) Seifke of Burlington and Rhonda (Tom) Kribs of Caledonia; a grandchild, Matt Craven of Burr Oak; step-grandchildren, Alex Kribs and Ben Kribs of Caledonia, J.R. (Tori) Kugler of Quincy and Natasha Kugler of Coldwater; a great-grand-daughter, Zahanna Craven of Burr Oak; and step-great-granddaughters Haley Wilson and Alyssa Wilson of Coldwater and Lorelai and Kali Kugler of Quincy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Mary Craven (infant, 1941) and Florence Riley ( fag #5803901 )
Township, passed away on Friday,
November 3, 2017 at home. .
Kenneth was born on September 30, 1938 in Union City, MI to George S Craven ( fag #5806966 ) and Arabella Mead Craven ( fag #8037131 ) .
He grew up in Sherwood, where he did farming. After graduation with the Union City High School Class of 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for 13 years. Additionally, he took coursework in welding and meteorology at Kellogg Community College. A talented welder and machinist, Ken could design or fix anything. He operated an RV park in Arkansas, ran a welding machine shop and contracted with NASA in Florida, built oil rigs in Oklahoma and served as a purchasing manager for York International, which is now Johnson Controls.
At his shop in Florida, Ken built the world’s largest bulldozer, which was used to clear the Rodman Pool portion of the canal across Florida. He had hoped to sell it to the government to use it in place of Agent Orange to clear foliage during the Vietnam War. In his years in Florida, Ken served as fire chief in Lady Lake, president of the county fireman’s association, and as police commissioner for Lady Lake. He was elected as mayor of Lake Lady from 1972-1978 and had a street, “Craven’s Way,” named after him. Ken was named in the 1979 “Personalities in the South” and featured in the 1973-74 edition of “Who’s Who in Florida.” He also appeared in “International Autobiographies,” published in Cambridge, England.
Despite his many achievements, he was frustrated with the current political climate in the United States and wished he could have somehow brought the country back together. In February of 2003, Ken married Ruth Ann (Crane) Seifke, to whom he had been engaged in high school. They spent the first two years of their marriage as “gypsies,” traveling before making their home in Burlington Township and wintering in Donna, TX. Ken was always quick with a quip or a solution.
In his leisure, he enjoyed working on tractors and competing at tractor pulls. Ken is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann; his children, Keith (Dawn) Craven of Burlington, Tammey Craven of Sturgis and Patrick Craven of Norman, OK; his step-children Alan (Julie) Seifke of Burlington and Rhonda (Tom) Kribs of Caledonia; a grandchild, Matt Craven of Burr Oak; step-grandchildren, Alex Kribs and Ben Kribs of Caledonia, J.R. (Tori) Kugler of Quincy and Natasha Kugler of Coldwater; a great-grand-daughter, Zahanna Craven of Burr Oak; and step-great-granddaughters Haley Wilson and Alyssa Wilson of Coldwater and Lorelai and Kali Kugler of Quincy. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Mary Craven (infant, 1941) and Florence Riley ( fag #5803901 )
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