Kenneth Robert Michalke

Kenneth Robert Michalke, age 92 of Truman, passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at his home surrounded by loving family. Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 11 AM at Calvary Baptist Church in Granada.  Visitation Tuesday evening from 5-7 PM at Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman. Additional visitation one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in Nashville Cemetery, Rural Truman. Zaharia Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. www.ZahariaFamilyFuneral.com

Kenneth Robert Michalke was born on December 11, 1926 in Sauk Center, MN. He lived and attended school in Granada, MN before joining the United States Navy at 17 years of age to serve honorably in World War II in the South Pacific Ocean assigned to recon of the atom bomb at Hiroshima and Iwo Jima. Upon his return from service as an anti-aircraft gunner, he reunited with his childhood friend and married Lorraine Jurgenson on September 28, 1946, after a courtship which led to a seventy-three year marriage. Ken and Lorraine lived in various locations over the years, but called Truman home.

Ken took great pride in his work; he owned and operated Michalke Plaster and Stucco for seven decades. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved big game hunting in Canada - Alberta, Ontario, Labrador, Saskatchewan; as well as throughout the U.S. in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.  His passion was fishing, hunting, ice fishing, hunting, watching football and stock car races, hunting and fishing. If Ken was going on a hunting trip, he was packed six months in advance. He raced go karts in his younger years and there are many trophies in the garage to prove it.

His family enjoyed his subtle sense of humor and pranks. Ken and Lorraine worked well together, there was never a chance for dust to settle before starting their next project. They loved to travel and took several trips to Hawaii; their summers were spent traveling with their camper with Nashwauk as one of their favorite destinations.

Ken is survived by his wife, Lorraine (Jurgenson) Michalke, of Truman; Children, Steven (Vivian) Michalke, Fairmont, Gary (Cheri) Michalke, Fairmont, David (Susan) Michalke, Truman, Keith Michalke, Truman, Sheryl Pedersen, Fairmont, Terry Michalke and family friend Larry Jones, Truman, Timothy (Kirsten) Michalke of Thief River Falls; Grandchildren, Bobbette (Steve) Palmer, Micah (Sarah) Michalke, Kari (Dale) Dobie, Amy (Wade) Sagehorn, Kory (Cassi) Michalke, Jamey (Sarah) Michalke, Tera Ehlert, Nichole (Cory) Lewis, Heather (John) Taplin, Heidi (Stevan) Luhmann, Joshua Michalke, and Joseph Michalke; 20 Great grandchildren; sister: Dona Faye Decker, of Granada; sisters in law, Marge Jurgenson, Jean Nelson, Marilyn (Ron) Meyer, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

Preceded in death by his Parents, Florian and Lela (Bashaw) Michalke; Step-mother, Mabel (Berndt) Michalke; parents in law, Ellsworth and Elsie Jurgenson; sister, Flora (Dick) Schafer; sister, Gloria Ann (Delbert) Becker; Brother-in-law Robert Decker, Donald (Luella) Jurgenson, Robert Jurgenson, Stan Nelson, Marvin Sternke; sister-in-law, Sharon (Ralph) Maloney.

In lieu of flowers, the family’s wishes are for Memorials to be designated to Calvary Baptist Church for mission work.

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