Kenneth Henry Errer

Kenneth Errer, age 84, of Owendale, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2020, at his home.

Ken was born in Pigeon on April 24, 1935, to Wilber and Irene (Lucht) Errer. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Linkville, where he remained a member throughout his life. Ken was an active member being involved with the church council, playing on the dartball and softball teams, and helping out wherever he was needed. Ken attended one room schoolhouses, the Winsor School and the parochial school at St. Paul Lutheran in Linkville. Ken married Susan (Lynch) on July 28, 1956. He enjoyed playing softball and in the later years watching baseball, bowling, deer hunting, and spending time with his family. Ken was a life-long farmer, having started his career with a driving team of horses and ended with tractors that allowed him to farm almost 1000 acres with his uncle and his hired "hand", his wife, Susan. Ken worked campaigns at Michigan Sugar and always schooled his children and grandchildren on the process of turning those Michigan grown sugar beets into the sugar that we all love. Ken enjoyed his time with his siblings, his cousins, and his friends and was always willing to listen to a good story – and he really did listen. Ken loved the Lord and was proud to be a farmer and let others know that he loved both – the Lord and tending to the Lord's land.

Ken is survived by his wife, Susan; children: Cindy (Dean) Kruse of Cass City, Ken, Jr. (Faye) of Owendale, Jennifer (Scott) Wissner of Sebewaing; grandchildren: Paul (Brandi) Kruse, Becca (Brandon) Sulicki, Joshua (Erica) Errer, Wendy Ewald, Yvette (Jordan) Scharf, Mindy (Michael) Zmierski, Zoann (Philip) Hallam, and Holly(Nicholas) Byrnes; great grandchildren: Rylan, Kayden, Blayk, Heidi, Bella, Henry, Brettly, Lincoln, Lucy, Hazel, Hutch, Walter, Weston, and Xavier; sister, Jean Gransden of Pigeon; brothers: Leon (Laurel of Ypsilanti, Ronnie (Terri) of Fowlerville, Raymond (Diann) of Bad Axe; and brother-in-law, Bob Eisinger of Howell.

Ken was preceded in death by an infant great granddaughter, Mabel Errer; his sister, Donna Eisinger, and brother-in-law, Ron Gransden.

Kenneth Errer was born to Wilber and Irene (Lucht) Errer on April 24, 1935.  He was proud to be known as the oldest brother to his siblings, Donna, Leon, Jean, Ronnie, and Raymond. The bond between his siblings was, and is, an example of what a family should be.  Their events together and the support they give to each other in good times and bad should prove as an example to all of us.  Ken would be so proud to be "Uncle Ken" to his nieces and nephews.  Being the oldest sibling he watched his brothers and sisters start their families, careers and always had a deep interest as their family stories expanded.

Ken married his soul mate Susan Lynch on July 28 ^th , 1956, after thorough analysis that she could withstand the trials and tribulations of being a farm wife and partner.   The couple when first married moved in with maternal grandparents, Sam and Dora Luecht, in Pigeon, until their home at the Ricker farm could be finished.  Sam Luecht had three daughters, Irene Errer (Ken's Mother), Agnes Gorte and Joyce Parker.  It was with Joyce's husband, Hazen, that Ken and Sue would later form a farming relationship utilizing a "combining of resources – time and equipment" that was way ahead of today's corporate farming structures.

Family was very important to him with his paternal Aunts and Uncles holding a special place in his heart and forming memories that he passed down to his children and grandchildren.  The "Errer reunion" would include those siblings, their families, cousins, and Ken's Aunts and Uncles.  These   Aunts and Uncles included:  Twins Leoda Murphy and  Luella Shaw, Lillie Pobanz, Irene Heck, Edna Bittner, Tina Korman,  Otto Errer, and Carl Errer.

The next generation of first cousins provided even more close friends.  Many memories were made on Riffle Lake with the Parkers, the relationship with Judy (Errer) Reinhardt and her husband Ron and so many more cousins.  Ken knew them all and was proud of them and their families following the accomplishments of their children and grandchildren as years went by.

Ken placed importance on his relationship with his siblings being proud of their accomplishments, their military service, their careers, and the many nieces and nephews as the family continued to grow.

The military provided an Army tent, we could never quite figure out how it came to our family, but we were certain it was via either Uncle Ronnie or Uncle Leon.  This tent was the hunting "cabin" for Ken and his brothers and friends for many years.  As children we were required every year to unroll and put pepper inside the tent to insure that mice would not chew holes and it would be fit for deer camp. The tent pictures and stories are part of the fond memories growing up in this family.  In the 1980"s the tent was used at an American Cancer Relay for Life event being an authentic event for a MASH themed camp site of Thumb National Bank.  Ken could not have been more proud.

Growing up in the family we could not fathom how some of Dad's athletic talents were acquired.  We could understand the softball pitching skills, the bowling (as he continued to bowl on leagues for years), Grandpa Sam taught him how to ice fish, but the ice skating and roller skating left us in awe.  When the ice would freeze on the Shebbeon, Dad would put skates on and spin circles and glide with ease up and down the ice in the ditch.  As kids we were a disappointment with none of us mastering the skills he tried to teach us.  We had always heard the stories about the roller rink in Caseville, where apparently our parents had many a date night.  The roller skating was almost as embarrassing for us as the ice skating.  Dad did not show off often, but boy when he did, you prayed none of your friends would be around.  Then came the dancing.  Mom hated to dance, but Dad did so with ease.  Thinking back now, maybe he tired out that body with all the fun and hard work over the years.

A major event happened on Rescue Road worth mentioning.  One fight that happened, that as children we will never forget.  The road was converted from gravel to asphalt.  The speed of the vehicles going past was a major event for the farm.  But, the first thing Dad/Ken did was head to the city to purchase a set of roller blades.  Thus, the fight.  Mom declared Ken was going "to break his neck".  Of course he did not and highly encouraged the grandchildren to follow suit and learn to skate on this perfect surface.

Ken attended one room school houses, the Winsor School and the school at St. Paul's Lutheran in Linkville for his education. Then ending his studies to begin his life as a farmer.  He worked as a hired man/teen for many a local farmer.  When driving to Pigeon on back roads we would often be "schooled" about who lived on each farm and where he had worked.  When you think of Ken starting out farming with a team of horses and milking cows morning and night, learning to "lift" beets with equipment you now only see at the Octagon Barn museum section, we realize just how far the farming world has advanced in one lifetime.  Ken and Sue started out working as the "hired man" for Alva and Clara Ricker. The Rickers clearly got a deal, two workers for the price of one.   Alva would pass away suddenly in 1962 leaving Ken to manage all aspects of the farm.  It was not until 1976 that they were offered the opportunity to purchase the "Ricker Farm" and then they started to work other rented ground.  The farms of Mellendorf, Ellicott, Schnepp, and Lafave were added to the work load.  Farming during the crop season and then to Michigan Sugar in the winter to work the "campaign" became the way of life for the family.

Many years later Clara Ricker, who we called Larry, would marry a lovely man Fred Ebel.  Ken and Fred became good friends with their love of the soil, garden, and being outdoors.

The love of the land, trees, the forest, and the Lord was passed down to Ken and Sues children:   Cindy, Kenny, and Jennifer.    Kenny convinced his Dad to bring cows back onto the farm. Promising, and fulfilling the promise that Dad would not have to milk them.   The type and number of  animals continued to expand as the kids got older and  convinced their parents to expand barn stock to include a donkey, goats, peacocks (with the favorite being "Fred"), chickens, and steers.  Yes, the peacock was named after Fred Ebel who had passed away before the peacock mysteriously appeared on the farms one day.  He was certain "Fred" came back to keep track of things as the tame peacock would come to the house window for treats and provide security services from the pine trees at night. Always a collie dog on the farm with many cats that knew their place belonged "in the barn".

The only animal banned from the farm:  horses.  Ken always declared horses will do two things:  kick and kill you and produce mountains of manure to clean up.  We grew up hearing "you want something to kill you I will buy you a motor bike – at least we won't have to pitch the stall out."  Note we got neither a horse nor a motor bike.  But, a three wheeled go cart came to the farm with a few accidents along the way before it mysteriously disappeared

A wooded piece of farm property would be purchased in Tuscola County providing the perfect place for out door activities and hunting for the family.  A "Tiny House" would be purchased and moved into the woods that provided the perfect deer blind.  Again, he was way ahead of his time!  Many a trip was taken to watch the deer come to the feed piles, then legal, and eat the bratwurst that Sue cooked on the wood stove.

As you know Ken was a modest and humble person.   Although upgrades happened with pickups and cars he never appreciated the value of upgrading to a cab on his tractors.  Being in a cabin of a tractor, or the passenger seat of a car, would cause a case of sea sickness that was nasty.  So Sue got the new tractors with the cabs.  You have to keep that hired help happy.  Ken wore his straw hat and felt the fresh air on his face as he worked the ground for his entire farming career.  The one exception to a cab was his combine – being "up so high" must have resolved the sea sick issue, but we do remember a steady supply of Dramamine in the medicine cabinet that may have assisted with the "harvest".

One farm that was purchased outside of Owendale was Creel City.  This property was at the junction of two rail roads and was apparently thought to be a potential boom location with a full City plotted out with Streets and building sites.  The original map was framed and hung in the family home as a historic reminder of that City that never really materialized.

Ken declared the success of his farming years to be credited to three things:  the Lord providing, Shebeon loam soil, and the bees he had on the farm.  Yes bees.  Manual Thies early on brought the hives to the farm and now Dean Hutchinson.  Both of these men provided the many "workers" that Ken always credited for his bountiful harvest – along with the Lord.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Linkville has been a constant part of Ken's life.  He was baptized, went to school, confirmed, and married within St. Paul.  At many a church event you would see him as the "parking lot" attendant.  At the Octagon Barn, in the very early years of the festival, you would find him pulling a wagon from the parking lot.  Dad/Ken we noticed was always serving others.

The grandchildren and their accomplishments made Ken most pleased.  He has only two Grandsons.  One choose to serve the Lord as a Pastor, and the other a farmer tending to the Lord's land.  He would travel to Wisconsin to see Josh and Erica's family and would travel to Tuscola County just to watch Paul harvest with the biggest of equipment.   The accomplishments of all his Granddaughters:  Becca, Wendy, Yvette, Mindy, Zoann, and Holly brought him prideful smiles that none will ever forget.

If you are reading this, you know that as good of a story teller Ken was that he was even a better listener.  He would sit and listen to the stories of others and their families and remember the facts and later follow up with them for updates.  We are sharing these stories and memories with you our friends and family.

We will remember Dad/Ken with a smile on our face and treasure all of our memories.

A private family service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Linkville, with Rev. Christopher Suggitt officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The funeral service for Ken will be private in lieu of the COVID-19 virus. It will be broadcasted live, via St. Paul-Linkville Facebook page on Monday, March 23, 2020, at 6pm.