Marquette––Kenneth John Havican, 62, of 1602 Altamont Street, Marquette, entered eternal life Friday morning, August 24, 2007, at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin, after having a cardiac arrest twelve days earlier.
Ken was born December 24, 1944, in Marquette, a son of William D. and Leona (Lenore) Havican, and was a lifelong Marquette resident. He was a 1963 graduate of the Bishop Baraga High School and, while still in high school, held jobs where he was responsible for the care of a local laundromat, serving as a furnace man at the J.C. Penney Store, and as a elevator operator at the former Heritage Hotel. Following graduation, he worked for a time at the Cliff Dow. In 1969, he began a career with the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company, working for ten years as a crusher operator at the Mather B Mine and then was employed as a production truck driver at the Empire Mine, taking a leave of absence in 1988 due to a job related injury. He formally retired some years later. Ken was a lifelong member of St. Peter Cathedral and a member of Steelworkers Local #4950. Ken loved his grandchildren and they were the center and focus of much of his life. He also enjoyed reading his Bible daily, riding his tryke motorcycle, traveling in the South, and going on long, leisurely rides with wife, Linda, driving. Ken had a fascination for eagles and flew the flag daily.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, the former Linda M. Pence, whom he married February 11, 1978; his daughter, Tamara (Craig) Leadbetter of Marquette; his son, Kurt Havican of Marquette; his beloved grandchildren, Samantha, Drew, Morgan, Raven, Jessica, and Tori; two brothers, Harold Havican of Columbus, GA, and James (Beatrice) Havican of Alvin, WI; brothers-in-law, Robert Hewitt of Suomi Location and Doug (Diane) Pence of Drury, MO; and several nieces and nephews, among them special nephews, Mike and Eddie Havican who often spent summers with Uncle Ken and family, and nephew, Rob Havican. In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by a sister, Rose Hewitt; and a brother, Clarence Havican.
Friends may call at the Bishop’s Room at St. Peter Cathedral on Tuesday, August 28, beginning at 12:00 noon. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1:00 pm in the cathedral with Rev. Lawrence Gauthier as celebrant. Burial will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Linda Havican, 1602 Altamont Street, Marquette, MI 49855.