McCabe Funeral Home

My memories of Kenny are fond and many. From camping trips, to Traverse City birthday celebrations to prank calls while I lived in Germany to a most recent cherished visit in Florida. Kenny was a dear family friend who I greatly admired and loved. You will forever live on in our hearts. Give Max and Sarge a hug for us and I promise to continue calling Rob "Fat Man" in your honor.

I had the privilege to work with Ken for several years as an engineer in the Fuel Metering Department. He was one of the best managers I had in my tenure at Ford, and you always knew where he stood on issues we would encounter. I never had to worry about doing the "right thing", as you knew he would support your decisions and have your back. He also had a knack of challenging you as an engineer to do things that may have been outside your comfort zone, which I truly appreciated. We also new that we could enjoy one another's company outside of work whether playing golf or hanging out between periods at a Red Wing game. Thank you Ken, for your friendship, mentoring and zest for life, we will all miss you.

Ken has been my good friend since high school at Cass Tech. We spent time together working in the automotive garage trying to figure out the assignments from Owen Ellison. Later at Wayne State we spent many hours trying to figure out the answers to those diabolical engineering problems. These "study hours" included a lot of time in the snack bar with our group of WSU students. We often continued studying late into the night at Leiter's (spelling?) Lounge, just south of the Fisher Building. We also found time to play cards. The game had about 8 regulars. Over the years (50 +) the game continued and was still being held once a month at Marty's house. Sadly 5 of the original 8 have now passed on. After graduating from WSU in engineering Ken went to work at Ford and is probably the reason I also went to Ford. Ken and Cheryl have been good friends over all this time. My wife is still using Cheryl's recipe for sloppy joes. Rest in peace Ken. We will miss you. Tom and Chris Melville

I was one of the group that hung out at the Student Union, which of course included Ken! I have lots of memories of sitting around the table BS'ing with Ken and the whole gang! He will be missed! Win

Look at that smiling face! Kenny you have been with our family for as long as I can remember . There for the joyous occasions and more importantly for the hard times. I have always looked forward to your big hug and kiss when we saw each other . I will cherish the wonderful memories . I will miss you Kenny ... very much! RIP dear man Love, Heather

The talks we had at POEE. Ken & I had many discussions on different things. I enjoyed sharing info on cameras & lenses with him, but most of all...I enjoyed the ducks. His talent for carving duck decoys was amazing! Ken was always down to earth & inquisative. I'll miss & remember him with respect.

I am sorry to hear about the loss of one of our most admirable managers at Ford. Ken was respected by all and it seemed like everyone wanted to work for him, myself included. He brought me over as a Supervisor to head up the Fuel Metering Large Engine Section where I worked for years before we both went on to work in other areas within Ford. He will be cherished forever and remembered by all. Rest in Peace my dear friend.

Cheryl and family Thinking of you in this difficult time. I can only remember Kenny with a smile on his face. So much enjoyed his company at Saddlebag and on the golf course. Will miss him so much.

Ken and I met only a few years ago at Saddlebag, but it seems like I have known him forever. Since then we developed a close, deep friendship. Ken's passing prompted me, and I'm sure many others, to ask "why" and what I could have/should have done to help him deal with this terrible disease. I rationalized that if the Doctors, medicines, and medical treatments could not successfully treat this, then there was nothing that I or anyone could have done to help Kenny. Ken was a unique, interesting, special person that was fun to be around. We had many common interests. including the automotive industry(especially Ford),scotch, politics, Michigan Wolverines, and others, that created a strong bond. His broad knowledge, unique perspective and infectious personality resulted in many interesting, stimulating conversations. He also set a fine example of being involved, but not to involved in activities and causes. His home in the woods on the lake showed his love of nature and the simple life. The old saying that when a person dies it's like burning a book would have to be changed for Ken, it is like a whole library burned! Kenny will be sorely missed, may he be at peace. Doug Porrett

I met Ken in the late '60s when I started dating Terry, my wife-to-be and one of Cheryl's best friends. Our friendship lasted more than a half-century, and it could not have been stronger if we had known each other since kindergarten. So many, many good times with that crazy gang! An honorable man, a strong man, and a great friend for these many years, I also feel the need to comment on his "interesting" sense of humor. Ken liked to pin nicknames on his pals; one of his best friends was known simply as "Ugly". And for some reason my moniker was "Fat Man." He would delight in telling people I seldom saw that I had gained so much weight I was no longer recognizable. Once I met his neighbor for the very first time and the neighbor said "He's not as fat as you said." When either of us answered the phone (no matter who was calling), the greeting was always the same: "Well hello you fat *!*!+&6%6!". We were actually about the same weight, and for the past forty years or so we had an annual weigh-in for the coveted, framed "Fat Man Dollar"). A good man you are, Ken Klostermeyer. This is not a good bye, just "See ya later, Slim."

I will forever miss Uncle Kenny but I will cherish the lifetime of family memories from Christmas Eve at their home each and every year, to Easter brunches and the annual summer BBQ's. Uncle Ken was insightful, funny and a wonderful person. He certainly lived his life to the fullest and had a big influence on all who were lucky enough to have known him. Rest easy Uncle Ken. Love You, Beth

Ken altered and changed my path and direction in life. I met him Christmas Day 1964. We talked about our potential futures. I wanted to be an electrical engineer. Ken suggested that I apply to Wayne State. I did and got accepted. I truly did not know where WSU was. Ken took me to the WSU BARN. He showed me how to select those wonderful IBM 360 class cards and then go register and pay that ridiculous $104.00 a quarter fee. He took me to the used book store and then pointed out all my class buildings on our attractive campus. Ken introduced me to all of the Cass tech RAT PAK and got into a non-stop 4 year poker game established in the lovely WSU snack bar. Ken and Cheri rescued me when all I had after college was $10.00 and I was sleeping in my car. They provided me their home (in the basement) for 6 months until I got established. We have partied; drank: skied; fished; hunted; vacationed; travelled; snowmobiled; and shared so many countless good times together. Kenny was not only my best man at my wedding but also one of the finest human beings I shall ever know.

I met Kenny in 1971 during the first semester of the deliriously enjoyable four years we attended night law school at Detroit College of Law, while working full time to keep the bills paid. We remained friends from that day until this. He was simply an all around nice guy. Although I left Michigan in 1978, Kenny and I were on the phone with each other every week or ten days since I left. His dry, ironic wit has been a source of great enjoyment for me. I never have had a wide circle of close friends and am honored to have had Kenny as such all this time. I will miss him.

I worked for many years as one of Ken's supervisors in FEAD and later in Emission Components in Fuel Metering. He was a one of my most memorable managers in my 42 years at Ford. He always kept his word and listened to everyone. He helped me get into the Six Sigma program, and I will always appreciate him for that, and all the mentoring he gave me in the few years I worked for him. A truly honorable person. RIP Ken.