TRUMAN — Kenneth Robert Michalke, age 92, of Truman, passed away Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, at his home surrounded by loving family. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, at Calvary Baptist Church in Granada.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman, and one hour prior to the service Wednesday 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 Dec. 11, 1926, in Sauk Center, Minn. He lived and attended school in Granada, Minn., before joining the U.S. 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 Sept. 28, 1946, after a courtship that led to a 73-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, watching football and stock car races. 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 of Fairmont, Gary (Cheri) Michalke of Fairmont, David (Susan) Michalke of Truman, Keith Michalke of Truman, Sheryl Pedersen of Fairmont, Terry Michalke and family friend Larry Jones, of Truman, Timothy (Kirsten) Michalke of Thief River Falls; 12 grandchildren; 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.

He was 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 wishes for memorials to be designated to Calvary Baptist Church for mission work.

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