Donald Lewis Kelso, Sr.

Donald Lewis Kelso, 78, of Mackinaw City, Michigan, passed away peacefully at American House in Petoskey on Saturday, February 27, 2021. Don was born on November 20, 1942 in Owosso, Michigan to Aloysius “Lewis” and Frances (Soukup) Kelso as the third of five children and lived in Oakley, Michigan, on the family farm. 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. Years later, Don would find out that he contracted asbestosis in his lungs from his time serving on the submarine and became a Disabled U.S. Veteran. After returning to Michigan in the summer of 1966, Don met his future wife Jeanine Mollen on a blind date, and they were married on June 3, 1967. The couple lived in Coldwater and Ludington before settling in Mackinaw City, where they resided for the rest of their lives. Don built a home for his family in 1972 and he and “Jeanne” raised four children in the Mackinaw City community.

Don worked many jobs in his career after the Navy, 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 Ludington, 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.

Don enjoyed any sport that involved a motor and was a lead mechanic for the Downing Snowmobile Racing Team. He also enjoyed watching nearly every NASCAR race with Dale Earnhardt, Sr. as his favorite racer. Don fixed many vehicles, snowmobiles, and motorcycles over the years for friends in the community of Mackinaw City.

He is survived by three of his children, Martin Kelso of Mackinaw City, Lynne (Gary) Lesky of Harbor Springs, and Lisa Kelso (Shilo Roberts) of Indian River; 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 will take place at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Mackinaw City (600 W. Central Ave, Mackinaw City, MI 49701) on April 17, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Father Dennis Stilwell will officiate.

Burial will take place immediately following at Lakeview Cemetery (Mackinaw City) with military honors.

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