Kenneth Harold "Ken" Mayotte

MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Kenneth Harold "Ken" Mayotte, 87, of Marquette Township, entered eternal life Thursday morning, Aug. 23, 2018, at UP Health System-Marquette in the loving, comforting care of his family.

Born Nov. 15, 1930, in Munising, to Clifford and Marie (Tousignant) Mayotte, Ken was raised in the Harvey area and attended Bishop Baraga High School, graduating in 1948. In 1949, Ken entered military service, first with the U.S. Army and later Air Force, serving during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, Ken returned to Marquette. In November 1955, Ken married Mary Lou McCarty and the couple resided in Harvey. Ken was employed as a corrections officer for the state of Michigan, serving at the Marquette, Ojibway and Kinross branch prisons. He retired in November 1981 as a Captain.

Following retirement, he and his second wife, Helen (Kulick), whom he married in December 1976, returned to Marenisco. In 1997, Ken relocated to Marquette. Ken was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, target shooting and collecting guns. For many years, he was a hunter's safety instructor, volunteered as an EMT and enjoyed volunteer work in general.

Ken was also active at the Marquette Senior Center, arriving early every Monday morning to prepare the coffee for the Senior Coffee Group. He was a 47-year member of Richard Jopling Post 44 of the American Legion and a member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey. He was honored in 2016 by being a member of Mission X Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Ken is survived by his children, Peggy (Brad) Wind, of Orland Park, Ill., John (Dawn) Mayotte, of Negaunee Township, and Dan Mayotte, of Marquette; his five grandchildren, Misti Stoffel, of Fond du Lac, Wis., Julie (Justin) Jarmus, of Romeoville, Ill., Stacy (Jim) Wojkiewicz, of Fond du Lac, Wis., David (Marisa) Wind, of Oak Park, Ill., and Ian Mayotte, currently serving in the U.S. Marines; 10 great-grandchildren; one great great-granddaughter; two sisters, Carol Jean Keeler and Mary Bradley, both of Marquette; his brother, Rev. Allan Mayotte, of Iron Mountain; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ken was preceded in death by his second wife, Helen; a sister, Shirley Layne; a brother, Richard "Dick: Mayotte; and brothers-in-law Jim Keeler and Richard Bradley.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey on Monday, Sept. 3, beginning at 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon with Rev. Glenn Theoret, pastor, and Ken's brother, Rev. Allan Mayotte, concelebrating. A reception will follow in Father Gauthier Hall. Interment will be made at the Holy Cross Cemetery following the reception. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Louis the King Catholic Church, 264 Silver Creek Road, Marquette, MI, 49855.

The Fassbender Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderfuneralhome.com.