Kenneth Lowell Carlson

Kenneth Lowell Carlson, age 93, of Okemos, MI, cracked his last sarcastically funny joke on March 11, 2022. He made sure he was the most charming and loving human around so Bonnie Jean Stockford Carlson, his wife of 65 years, daughter Wendy Jean Carlson-Henion, and granddaughter Haley Claire Henion would miss his hugs, humor, and the scent of Old Spice forever. Also missing his charismatic presence are his nieces, Bobbi Jean Donaldson and Ronni Sue (Richard) Specht; his in-laws Marilynn (Jerry) Romanowski, Lois Stockford, and Ed Stockford; “his girls” Kimberly (Robert) Stack and Jodie (Tim) Shearer; and the extended Stockford and Carlson families.

Preceding Ken to Heaven were: parents Fern Louise and Kenneth L. Carlson; sister Gloria Jean (Robert) Bayes; and grandsons Connor Kenneth Carlson Henion, and Joshua Drew Henion.

Ken was a veteran of WW2 (he lied about his age to enter) and a member of the Ohio State Naval Militia BEFORE his Lakewood High School graduation. He received a Senate appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1946. After a year that included sailing aboard the USS Eagle, he transferred to the Air Force fighter pilot program and flew his T6G. After a brief break in the National Guard, he returned to his 5th Armed Service as the Platoon Sergeant for the Integrated 24th Infantry during the Korean War. He attended GMI (Kettering) on the first GI Bill, and became a successful Profession Industrial Engineer and Licensed Mechanical Engineer. He was proud to fight for individual freedoms of choice, and hoped America doesn’t screw up what he was willing to die to save.

Services for Kenneth will be held at Great Lakes National Cemetery on March 21, 2022, 4200 Belford Rd, Holly, MI 48422, at 1:00pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grwilliamston.com for the Carlson family.