John Kenneth Bourgon

John Kenneth “Ken” Bourgon was born in South Bend, Indiana on August 22, 1938, the first of three children for Fernand Rene Bourgon and Marian Lenore Maurer. After living in Detroit, his family moved to Livonia, Michigan in 1945.

Ken was an altar boy and sang in the church choir at St. Michael’s parish. He was active in Cub Scouts and then in the only Boy Scout troop in Livonia, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in 1954. He sang in the choir at Bentley High School and had parts in three musicals and two plays. Ken was also involved in school politics, as Class President his junior year and in Student Council his senior year. During the summer, he worked on the camp staff at Charles Howell Scout Reservation in Brighton.

Ken attended college at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in Education with minors in US History and Social Studies. He sang and traveled nationally with the Notre Dame Men’s Glee Club, participated in several campus organizations, and worked with a South Bend Boy Scout troop. After completing his undergraduate degree in 1960, Ken remained at Notre Dame for a fifth year to complete his Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling.

Ken married Ellen Dankert in December 1961, and they moved to Livonia, where Ken took a job as an English / Social Studies teacher at Emerson Junior High. He moved to Bentley High School to teach English and then US History, before transferring to Franklin High School as the Director of Student Activities. He and Ellen had five children in the 1960’s (Rick, Mike, Amy, Patty and Rob).

Ken spent the next 29 years as a high school assistant principal in the Livonia Public Schools. As an assistant principal at Franklin, then Churchill and then Stevenson, Ken was responsible for student scheduling, and he helped to develop and launch several school programs. He always said that he wanted to remain an assistant principal so that he could work directly with the kids.

Ken was scoutmaster for Troop 782 in Livonia for over 40 years. He led eleven groups of scouts to Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico and multiple groups to the Florida Sea Base. Over 280 Boy Scouts achieved the rank of Eagle Scout during Ken’s tenure as Scoutmaster and then Scoutmaster Emeritus.

Ken joined the Livonia Historical Commission in 1971 and remained an active member for the rest of his life. He was actively involved in the creation and growth of the Livonia Historical Village at Greenmead. He involved the Boy Scouts in multiple Eagle Scout projects to maintain and enhance the various historical buildings at Greenmead.

Ken was the cherished husband of Ellen for 54 years. Loving father of Richard (Twila), Michael (Laura), Annemarie (Ken) Ponder, Patricia (Thomas) Korff and Robert (Lisa). Proud grandfather of Garrett, Quinn, Kenneth, Tracy, Andre, Nicole, Bailey, Max, Owen, Nate, David, Alexi, Anais and Emery and great-grandfather of Easton. Dear brother of Richard (Rosemary) and Mary Margaret Temple.

The Bourgon family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday February 11, 2016 3-8 pm and on Friday February 12, 2016 from 2-8 pm with Vigil Service in the evening at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd. (east of Newburgh and I-275) in Livonia.

His life will be celebrated with a Funeral Mass on Saturday February 13, 2016 at 10 am, with in state 9:30 am, at St. Colette Catholic Church, 17600 Newburgh Rd. (north of Six Mile Rd) in Livonia.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are appreciated to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls or Seedlings.