Donald Lewis Kelso, Sr.
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Donald Lewis Kelso, 78, of Mackinaw City, passed away February 27, 2021. Don was born November 20, 1942 in Owosso, Michigan to Aloysius "Lewis" and Frances (Soukup) Kelso. His family moved to Mackinaw City in 1947 and owned and operated Breaker's Court Cabins next to the State Ferry Dock in Mackinaw City for 40 years. Don graduated from Mackinaw City High School in 1961 and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served from 1962-1966, attending Machinist School at Great Lakes Naval Academy and the Nuclear Power Program, serving aboard the USS Threadfin (SS 410) Submarine stationed in Key West, Florida, and receiving the National Defense Service Medal.
On June 3, 1967, Don married Jeanine Mollen. The couple lived in Coldwater and Ludington before settling in Mackinaw City, where they resided for the rest of their lives.
Don worked many jobs including Heavy Equipment Operator for Walsh-Canoni and Johnson & Greene building parts of I-75 and I-96 in southern Michigan, for the Hydro-Electric Plant in Lansing, and for Downing's Sales & Service in Mackinaw City as a certified mechanic. He was the owner and operator of the Total Gas Station & Auto Repair Shop and a certified mechanic at Crusoe-Nunley Ford in Cheboygan. He also worked in residential and commercial construction in the northern Michigan and U.P. areas, as manager of Maxi Muffler Shop in Cheboygan, in environmental services at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital, and building maintenance at Cheboygan Healthcare Center.
He is survived by his children, Martin Kelso, Lynne (Gary) Lesky, and Lisa Kelso (Shilo Roberts); grandchildren Emily and Annie Lesky; Trent, Chelsey, Gage, Jackson, and Asher Kelso; Landon Kelso-Roberts; step-grandsons Matthew and Michael Lesky; great grandchildren Savannah, Journey, and Jace; step great-grandchildren Kael and Maangaashkaa Lesky; siblings Bernie (Linda) Kelso, Rick (Melanie) Kelso, Lucy Marsh, and Cathy (Louie) Steffani; brothers and sisters-in-law Martin Mollen, Janet (Joe) Hebert, David Gabis, Tim (Ruth) Mollen, Jackie (Ron) Aldrich, Bill (Shirley) Mollen, and Dale Spray; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Jeanine, his son Donald, Jr., parents Frances and Lewis, brother-in-law Ray Marsh, sisters-in-law Joanne (Mollen) Spray, Patricia (Mollen) Gabis, and Jacqueline Mollen, brother-in-law John Mollen, and mother and father-in-law, Leo and Blanche (Love) Mollen.
A memorial mass and burial service with military honors will take place in the spring in Mackinaw City.