Kenneth Balch

Kenneth (Kenny) Amos Balch passed into his eternal life surrounded by his loving family on December 31, 2016, at Hiland Cottage in Petoskey, Michigan. His passing was due to the many complications of a subdural hematoma brought on by a cerebrovascular accident in mid November.

Ken came into this world in the middle of a blizzard on January 30,1938, to parents Kenneth Arthur and Edith Balch at the home of his grandparents, Amos and Elinor O’Neil of Charlevoix, Mi.

As a child, Ken, owned his own horse, a Welsh pony named Buster, and became quite a proficient rider. He and his horse both could run like the wind. Ken was a natural in sports and practiced shooting hoops by the light of the street lamps so he would be excellent on the basketball floor. His diligence paid off because he was advanced to first string in basketball when he was a sophomore in high school and was always one of the top scorers. In football Ken was a running back and loved the game. In track he ran the high and low hurdles going on to break the long standing record of Richard Bergmann. Ken’s record was later broken by Ronald Vandenberg.

Ken Graduated from Charlevoix High in 1957, he and several of his close friends had joined the R.O.T.C. Program their junior year and went for physicals for active duty following graduation. A physical exam revealed Ken to have a heart condition for which he was never aware of during his sporting activities in high school. A recruiter took Ken back to Detroit for a second physical some months later. The first diagnosis was reaffirmed at his second visit. Because of these facts, Ken was not accepted into active duty. He then went to work for Floyd Brown of Brown Motors in Charlevoix and learned the trade of auto body collision repair and painting.

Feeling the need to be involved in some sporting activity he began to play baseball with Ormsbee Motors of Cheboygan with his team winning Michigan’s Class C State Finals in 1963 held in Coldwater. Bob Klooster of Atwood and Charlevoix was the pitcher in that game and both were later inducted into the Cheboygan Baseball Hall of Fame. Ken began this sport as first baseman and went to third baseman before finding his calling as shortstop. Watching him play was as impressive as seeing a ballet. Ken exhibited such grace to his split second moves of running and maneuvering low for a grounder, to jumping high to catch a fly ball, at the same time twisting around with a mighty  turn in the air with ankles together and a pitch of the ball to home plate or one of the other bases for an out! It was true beauty in motion proving Ken was truly an “all-star” of all the sports he played. He also played shortstop for the American-Mold team here in Charlevoix for several years and won four batting trophies in his career. The final two were won two years in a row. Two of his major hits were outstanding at the Petoskey Ball Park. One went over the scoreboard into Little Travers Bay and the other flew high across US-31 Highway to land in the large area where the statue of Peter Petoskey now presides. Ken excelled in golf and loved that game as well. Having played baseball for so many years, his wrists were strong and highly skilled at long drives. With the many golf courses he was privileged to play, Charlevoix’s Belvedere was his most favorite.

Following his employment at Brown Motors, Ken worked at General Motors spray painting new automobile parts on an assembly line. He missed the beauty of his hometown of Charlevoix and returned to a job of road building with Martin’s Asphalt. In moving a huge mass of tree roots in the back of a dump truck to allow room for more, a large dried up root broke off and released him from the top of the truck. Ken sustained a broken back and was treated by the very physician, Gilbert B. Saltonstall, M.D. who had delivered him into the world at his Grandparent’s House. After one month of traction arranged in a Charlevoix Hospital bed, and six months in a steel brace, Ken’s back healed well, and he passed a physical for employment at the Medusa Cement Corporation. This company was later to become Southdown, Cemex, and now St. Mary’s Cement. Ken enjoyed 26 ½ years of service and retired during the Southdown years. He was very good at operating small equipment, including the Cherry Picker. His fellow workers greatly trusted his work ethics and his care while moving them around in the bucket as they performed repair work. Before his retirement he drove the huge “Yukes” in the quarry and enjoyed that job as well.

Ken also loved to be out in the woods deer hunting, looking for morals in the spring, and picking blackberries in the fall. He also enjoyed camping with family and friends and traveling by motor home in the picturesque Upper Peninsula; visiting the many waterfalls, lighthouses, and just being in the quiet woodlands enjoying nature and along the craggy shores of Lake Superior, including the rugged shoreline of the Keweenaw Peninsula. Several years ago he and three friends traveled to Newfoundland for a moose hunting trip. They took the ferry to Daniel’s Harbor and were flown into the bush. Two of the four hunters filled their tags with Ken being one of the lucky ones. They shared the meat with one another and Ken had a nice rack of antlers to hang in his den.

Ken’s first family was begun with the former Nancy Wallace of Charlevoix and presently of Grand Rapids. They had two sons together, Randy (Kerry) Balch of Rockford, Michigan and Jeffrey (Candi) Balch of Charlotte, Michigan.

Ken’s second family was with the former Kaye Ward Robinson, and they raised two daughters, Michelle Robinson Kane Vancil (Mark) of Mineral Ridge, Ohio, and Kendall Kaye Balch Smith (James) of Charlevoix.

Ken has nine grandchildren. Randy’s children are Kyle (Danielle) Balch of Belding and his sister Taylor Lynn Balch of Kentwood, Michigan. Jeff’s Children are Chelsea Balch of Potterville, Michigan, and Lexi (Travis) Shumaker of Charlotte, Michigan. Michelle’s children are Ryan Michael (Tawni) Kane of Wellington, Colorado, and Courtney Ranae Kane-Haight (Erick Haight) of Gaylord, Michigan; and Braden Marcus Vancil of Mineral Ridge, Ohio. Kendall’s children are twins Shayne O’Neil and Sheldon James Smith of Charlevoix. Ken’s five great-grandchildren are Aizlyn Nicole Balch of Belding, Adalynn Grace Shumaker of Charlotte and Hudson, Ciara and Lillian Kane of Wellington, Colorado. Ken is also survived by his loving wife, Kaye of 48 years, his brother Garry Balch of Charlevoix and nieces Bambi Lynn (Butch) Potter of Ellsworth and Stephanie Balch of Traverse City, Michigan; as well as many cousins. Ken was predeceased by his parents, brother Ronald (Bud) Balch and his brother-in-law Bradford Ward, and many aunts and uncles.

In the blending of families, Kerry Balch’s adult children are very special and also deserve to be included on the family tree. Raechel Wanish (Brett) Moran and their son Graham of Burlington, Wisconsin; Joshua Wanish of Wyoming, Michigan; and Kendall Wanish (Lewie) DeGeneault of the Great Northwest. Kerry’s father, Neil Keller, was also a good friend and enjoyable golf partner.

Candi Balch (Jeff) has three adult children as well who have recently joined Ken’s extended family. Makayla Tussey and brother Wyatt Tussey of Middleville, Michigan, and Ashleigh Tussey of Fennville, Michigan.

Another dear friend and golfing pal of many years’ duration is Jack Holt of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He and Ken joined forces in many annual Granddad Tournaments and the Sault Country Club.

Ken was a gentle soul and a caring man with a great love of family. He was a kind, faithful, and honest husband, father and grandfather.  “A woman would walk through fire and ice for such a kind heart” (author unknown).

Visitation for friends and family will be held at the Winchester Funeral home in Charlevoix from 6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm. on Thursday, January 5, 2017. A graveside service will be held in the spring.