Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....McDowell, Kenneth R. June 24, 2017
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Pat Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net July 20, 2020, 10:14 am

Ionia Sentinel Standard-Wed. June 28, 2017

KENNETH MCDOWELL 1932-2017
Kenneth R. McDowell of Chelsea, Michigan, age 84, died on June 24, 2017 at his 
home. He was born Nov. 8, 1932, on a farm near Lake Odessa, MI, the youngest son 
of James A. McDowell and Ethel E. (Young) McDowell.

On Dec. 2, 1961 he married Dolores Y. LaFontaine of North East MD, and they were 
married for 55 years. Survivors include his wife and two children, daughter Dawn 
Y. Reames of Chelsea, son K. Rob McDowell II (wife Vicky) of Chelsea. Three 
grandchildren include, Kent R. Reames (wife Sara), Meghan Rhoades (husband 
Matt), and Kenny R. McDowell III.

Ken is also survived by several sister-in-law and/or brothers-in-law, Marjory 
McDowell, OnaFay and Bob Jines, Darlene and Ron Roberts, Sandara LaFontaine, 
Ruth LaFontaine, plus many nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, John A. McDowell, 
Donald J. McDowell; sister-in-law, Marian McDowell, nephew J. Ford McDowell,, 
and brother-in-law, Dorcell and Gary LaFontaine.

Ken graduated from lake Odessa High School in 1950 and from Western Michigan 
university in 1967 with a B.S. degree in mechanical Engineering.

For years Ken and his brother Don hoped to have a small private transportation 
museum. Even through that "destination" was never fully realized, the enjoyment 
of the "journey" probably made it all worthwhile. Ken was a Charter member of 
the Grand Rapids Horseless Carriage Club, the Lansing Capital City Old Car Club, 
and the Chelsea Area Historical Society. He was also a former member of the 
Veteran Motor Car Club, and a current member of the REO Club of America, and the 
R.E. Olds Transportation Museum.

In 1956 Ken went to work at Reo Motors in Lansing, He worked there for 10 years 
in the Experimental Engineering Dept. This was his first major job and he loved 
it. Around 1960 Reo sent him to Aberdeen proving ground, MD, which is where he 
met his wife Dolores, who worked as a secretary on the Army post. Ken was the 
resident engineer for two years where 6 REO prototype military trucks were being 
tested. In 1968 he went to work for Chrysler Corp. which is where he retired 
from after spending 20 years in the Vehicle safety Crash Group., Chelsea. 
However he then worked 11 more years under contract at the Chrysler Tech Center 
in Auburn Hills, MI.

The family will receive friends a at the Staffan-Mitchell; Funeral Home, 
Chelsea, on Wednesday, June 29, 2017 from 6-8 p.m. The funeral will be Thursday 
at 11 a.m. also at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oak 
Grove East Cemetery in Chelsea.

If desire, contributions may be made to any of the following: American Liver 
Foundation, American Heart Association, R.E. Olds Transportation museum 
(Lansing), National Automotive History Collection (Detroit Library), Arbor 
Hospice or to any charity of choice.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/m/mcdowell37807nob.txt

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