Kent Ross Thibaudeau

Born on April 9, 1931 to the late Ross Clifford and Thelma Arletta Thibaudeau (nee Wilson), Kent grew up in Dearborn, graduating from Dearborn High in 1949. He completed his college studies at Eastern Michigan and embarked on a career in public education. He served as an Elementary Principal in Holt (Midway and Dimondale elementary schools).

Kent married his true love, Judith Hollinger, on August 17, 1957. She preceded him in death in 2012, after 54 years of marriage. Together they raised four sons in Okemos: Jon (Wendy), Marc, Matthew (Jeryl) and Christian (Jill), and has a living legacy of 10 grandchildren: Joshua and Jacob Thibaudeau, Leah Barnes (Adam) and Dana Kapaska (James), Aaron, Blaire and Cole Thibaudeau, and Lincoln, Erik and Reed Thibaudeau. He is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Audrey and Benjamin Barnes (and one due in July) and Maylee and Barrett Kapaska. Kent is also survived by his brother, Mark Thibaudeau, of Surprise, Arizona and his former daughter-in-law Susan Thibaudeau as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Kent was preceded in death by his siblings Marilyn Karinen and Jan Thibaudeau.

Residents of Okemos would frequently see Kent running throughout town, cheering on his boys and all of the Chiefs (unless they were playing Holt), attending church at Okemos Community Church and University United Methodist Church, having breakfast with dear friends at Coral Gables on Saturday mornings, playing golf or cards with his cronies or officiating OAKS games. He was deeply devoted to developing youth into adulthood, mentoring and supporting students and neighbors in their growth and will be dearly missed by all.

The family will celebrate Kent’s life later in the summer.

Memorials may be made to Residential Hospice Foundation to help ensure hospice services are available to all who may need them. Link: https://residentialhospicefoundation.org/donate/