Obituary of Michael Fay kalen

Mr. Michael Fay Kalen passed peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Sunday November 21, 2021 at the age of 80 in his home surrounded by his family in Holt, Florida. Michael was born September 21, 1941 in Rockford, IL to Fay Franklin Kalen and Florence Ingrid Olson. He attended public school in Winnebago County, IL and went on to enlist in our great Navy in 1961 and served as a Boiler Technician Third Class aboard the USS Markab (AR-23) from 1961 until 1965 and had the opportunity to travel the world as a result. After serving his country, Michael returned home to Rockford and worked for Barber-Colman as a Powerhouse Engineer before starting his own business, Swede's Heating and Cooling. In 1982 he sold his business prior to moving his family to Cape Coral, FL in lieu of getting his contracting license to build a multitude of businesses and residences all-over South-Western Florida for Hilton. In his later years before retirement he worked as a handy man and a jack-of-all-trades for residences and businesses in Northwest Florida and even in retirement was the head groundskeeper for Rivers Edge Campground where he and Peggy resided until his death. Michael met the love of his life (Margaret Herbst) in June 1963 and they were married on April 11th, 1964 in Reno, NV at the Chapel of the Bells. With that came the birth of their only daughters Lorrie, born October 19, 1964 and Melissa, born June 26, 1966, both in Rockford, IL. Michael was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and he thoroughly loved the outdoors. He loved spending time with family taking them camping, fishing, ice skating, canoeing and many other things. He spent an incalculable amount of time at his family's lakeside cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, God's Country as he called it. With his skills he renovated the family cabin, bringing aspects and features of it into the modern era while also keeping its rustic and traditional Swedish heritage, to accommodate generations to come. He also renovated their first family home and built them two other homes. Michael was highly respected from all walks of life and was loved and adored by everybody that was close to him and he was well known for his gentle kindness. He loved and cared for his family and friends in ways that will be missed dearly. Michael is survived by his wife of 58 years Margaret "Peggy" Kalen (Holt, Fl), his daughter Lorrie Ann Weis and her husband William Weis(Pensacola, FL), his daughter Melissa Lynn Kalen and her partner William Fitzgerald(Pensacola, FL), his brother Timothy Kalen and wife Carol Kalen(Rockford, IL), and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Michael will be put to rest on Lake McDonald in Gulliver, MI along with his parents and his brother (Dennis R Kalen).