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As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
Kenneth Donald Cygan of Dollar Bay, Michigan passed away on April 5th, 2024 at the Omega House in Houghton, Michigan. Kenneth was born on August 12th, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois to Stanley and Mary (Tarvis) Cygan.
Kenneth moved to Laurium at the age of 6. He attended Calumet High School where he graduated from in 1957. He was a proud member of the Jr. ROTC an was a member of the rifle team. He excelled in marksmanship and won a first-place medal in competition with a regular army rifle team at Fort Riley, Kansas.
He attended Michigan Technological University (MTU) where he majored in Geology. After graduating from MTU in 1961, he worked for C+H in the mines and later for MTU in Mining Research. Ken was a founding investor in Peninsula Copper Industries and worked there for many years in materials management. He was also secretary of the board for many years.
In his free time, he enjoyed biking, motorcycles, running, cross country skiing, and boating. He loved spending time at the deer camp with his sons in the log cabin his father built.
Ken married Cheryl Jean Rowe in 1965. Together they had two sons, Brian, and Christopher. After they parted company, he married Karen Hendrickson in 1977. She brought four children to the marriage, Kaye, Carol, Nancy, and Jack. After 20 years of marriage, Karen passed away of cancer.
A new chapter of life started when Ken retired and became serious about sailing. He and his future wife, Nancy Bird, spend a year living on a small catamaran sailboat, traveling down rivers to Mobile Bay and across to Florida and the Bahamas. They married on November 11, 2005 and shared many adventures in their camper and living at the waters edge at Grosse Point Shores.
Ken was beloved by many and will be sorely missed, but we know he is in a better place and has seen the face of the Lord.
Ken was predeceased by his parents and daughter Kaye Fernan. He is survived by his wife Nancy Bird, brother Dennis (Leah) Cygan of Gaylord, MI, sons: Christopher (Julie) Cygan, Brian Cygan, and Jack (Beth) Hendrickson of Stowe, Ohio, daughter Carol Schoen of Chippewa Fals, WI and Nancy Doll of West Palm Beach, FL, step-daughter Rebecca (John) Fuentes of Pottsville, PA, and sister-in-law Carol Bird. He is also survived by grandchildren Alex Cygan, Alex Fernan, Claire Fernan, Lee Cozza, Liza Doll Gonzales, Rose Schoen, Shamus Schoen, Chris Hendrickson and Karen Hendrickson and many nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service for Kenneth Cygan will be held Monday, April 15th at 12:00 pm at the Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet, Michigan. A visitation will be held Monday, April 15th from 11:00-12:00 pm at the Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Omega House, Houghton, Michigan.
Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home will be assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.
