December 26, 1948 - July 28, 2022
Kenneth Joseph Ermatinger Sr., age 73, of Hessel, Michigan, passed away on July 28, 2022, at Pennington Home in Pickford, Michigan. Ken was born on December 26, 1948, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to parents Reginald W. and June (Zyrd) Ermatinger.
Ken grew up in the Sault Ste. Marie area. After graduating high school, he went on to work on the Great Lakes shipping boats. He met the love of his life, Betty Lou Smith, and they married on February 4, 1993, and raised a family together. Ken owned and operated a survey and architect company “ESA” before starting work with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Ken worked for many departments within the Tribe and finally ended his career as the Executive Director of the Gaming Commission after over thirty years and retired in January of 2020.
Ken was a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Eagles club.
Ken loved spending time with his family and grandchildren. He enjoyed taking his family on trips to their favorite spot “Palm Springs, California.” He can be remembered doing the thing he loved, which was sitting on his deck in the summertime with his faithful companion, Domino, watching people and boats go by. He was an amazing husband, father, and grandfather and will be missed by so many.
Ken is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Chris (Sarah) Ermatinger, Ken Jr. (Laura) Ermatinger, and Jason (Lisa-Jo) Smith; grandchildren, Ken Ermatinger III, Jayden Smith, Erin Ermatinger, Isabella Ermatinger, Payton Smith, Justin Pollard, Peter Treleaven, Alexandria Brown and Avery Brown; siblings, Mike Ermatinger, Cheryl (Rich) Swanson, and Edie (Jerry) Reno; as well as many others.
Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents, Reginald and June Ermatinger.
Services will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at the Hessel Community Tribal Center, 3355 N 3 Mile Road, Hessel, MI 49745, from 10 AM until 5 PM.
Interment will take place at Cedar Cemetery in Cedarville, Michigan, at a later time.
