Kenneth Wayne Ross

Kenneth Wayne Ross, age 85, of Rudyard, Michigan, died at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan, on June 7, 2023. He was born in DeTour Village, Michigan, on January 9, 1938, to Russell and Lola Jewell (Marshall) Ross. Kenneth moved to Rudyard at a young age and lived on a farm south of town. He attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Rudyard and graduated from Rudyard High School in 1957. After he earned a certificate in Agriculture from Michigan State University, he served in the Army National Guard Reserves. He met and courted Judy Faust, marrying the love of his life in 1964. They raised their three boys on their farm south of Rudyard while instilling in them a strong work ethic paired with an equal measure of fun family adventures. Among many jobs he held were equipment repairman at McDowell Equipment in Rudyard, hauling hay to railroad boxcars in Rudyard and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, and fixing snowplows at the Kincheloe Air Force base. He later took over the family farm from his dad and expanded it. Kenneth recognized opportunities to develop his business and collaborated on a hay compressor to deliver his own product more efficiently. He enjoyed driving his semi-truck and hauling hay to Florida and Kentucky during the winter months. He also enjoyed stirring up trouble at the local coffee shops and always had an infectious laugh. Even though he lived with arthritic pain from a young age, he never let it stop him from being productive and enjoying time with family and friends. Kenneth was an active member of the EUP Antique Tractor Association in Rudyard. He proudly served on the Rudyard School board for 16 years. He was a member of the Grace Bible Church, the Truck Drivers Association, and previous member of the National Hay Association. He is survived by his children, Wayne (Dawn Pauze) Ross, Russell (Kelly Cleveland) Ross, and Gerald (Amanda Rogers) Ross; grandchildren, Adam (Kasey) Ross, David (Patrick) Ross, Rebekah (Harsh) Ross, Rachel Ross, Griffin Ross, Hannah Ross, Oliver Ross, Daniel Ross, and Nathaniel Ross; great grandchildren, Margaret Ross and Owen Ross; and his sister, Beverly Russell. Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Judith (Faust) Ross; and parents Russell and Lola Ross A visitation will be held at Galer Funeral Homes in Pickford, Michigan, on June 30th, from 1PM – 3PM. The Funeral Service start at 3 PM and will be officiated by Brian Harrison. Please come and join us in remembering Kenneth. Final resting place will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.

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Kenneth Wayne Ross

January 9, 1938 - June 7, 2023