Obituaries

Kenneth Richard Hardy, Sr., age 81, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died at his home on February 19, 2023. He was born in South Haven, Michigan, on February 25, 1941, to Donald and Eugenia (Rusin) Hardy.

Kenneth grew up in South Haven and graduated from South Haven High School. He attended Ferris State University for a couple years before attending the Michigan State Police Academy, where he graduated in June of 1963. He was stationed in Detroit, Michigan, for two years, where he escorted the Beatles to their venue. Kenneth married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Magowan on May 1, 1965, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1965, they moved to St. Ignace, Michigan and they started their family. After being a Michigan State Trooper for five years, Kenneth then became a sergeant for his remaining thirty years until his retirement in 1998.

While living in St. Ignace, Kenneth was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Moose Lodge #999, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the softball league, and the Masons.

Kenneth loved the outdoors - hunting, snowmobiling, boating, and fishing. He was a great athlete and was an All-State Varsity Captain for basketball and baseball.

Kenneth is survived by his daughter, Roxanne (Clark) Hardy-Smith of St. Ignace; sons, James (Jackie) Hardy of Saline, Michigan; and Kenneth (Vanessa) Hardy, Jr., of Mackinac Island, Michigan; grandchildren, Brady and Henry; and sister, Donna Nicholas of Corona del Mar, California.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Eugenia; wife, Nancy; his in-laws James and Clara Magowan; and sister-in-law, Joan Milan.

Visitation will be held at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 999 S. State Street, St. Ignace, Michigan, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 10:00 A.M. till 12:00 P.M. The Funeral Service will follow at 12 P.M.

Burial will be at Lakeside Cemetery in St. Ignace, later this spring.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Moose Lodge, 2999 Mackinac Trail, St. Ignace, MI 49781,to the Mackinac County Animal Shelter, 980 Cheeseman Rd., St Ignace, MI 49781 or to the St. Ignace Food Pantry, 250 Ferry Lane, St Ignace, MI 49781.

Galer Dodson Funeral Homes & Cremation, of St. Ignace, Michigan, is serving the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com