Kenneth David Melaragni

Born April 28, 1948 to John and Alice (Papciak) in Detroit Michigan. Ken attended Detroit schools. He earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Wayne State University. Ken was a police officer in the city of Detroit for five years. He was trained as a polygraph examiner and worked with homicide investigators. Ken worked in and for public government entities. He worked for a regional planning commission out of Escanaba, the Michigan Township association, and the State of Michigan for the last 22 years of employment. Ken worked in the Civil Service Department. His last position was as a hearings officer for state employees with grievances against their employers.

Ken was an avid photographer. He took a photography class, as part of his undergrad requirement, and translated that into a life time of looking at the world through a camera lens. He loved pictures of nature and has made thousands of prints. Living in Detroit he developed an interest in the freighters that plowed through the Great Lakes. He donated 2000 prints to an organization dedicated to Great Lake shipping history. When he moved to Escanaba he took up fly fishing and cross country skiing. He also wrote articles that were published in Rod and Reel magazine. When we moved to our current address, he set up a wood shop where he made many things for our home and yard.

Ken is survived by his wife, Linda; his son, Peter; his brother-in-law, Mike Stanyar and many cousins and friends.

The funeral service will occur Monday, August 5, 2024 at 11:00 am, 1730 East Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823, with the family greeting friends from 10:00 to 11:00 am.