Kenneth "Ken" Yee

Kenneth “Ken” Yee, age 89, formerly of Lansing, MI, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021. He was born on June 25, 1931 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, to Yee Cho Kong and Mae Chow. Ken was raised and went to school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

He attained the rank of King Scout, the equivalent of Eagle Scout, in the Boy Scouts Association of Canada in 1948. Ken married Frances Sue Moy of Detroit, Michigan on June 21, 1959.

He then emigrated to Detroit, where he began work in the marketing division of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Ken and Fran moved to Lansing, MI in 1967, where they raised their three children. Ken retired on August 1, 1988 and moved to Grand Haven, Michigan. Ken was a board member of Health Central, Blue Care Network, a founding member and past president of the Lansing Chapter of Industrial Relations Research Association (IRRA), a past commander and educational officer of Lansing Power Squadron, taught safe boating for over thirty years, and was a life member of the United States Power Squadrons.

Ken was very active with the charter fishing industry. He was one of the five founding members and past president of the National Association of Charter Boat Operators (NACO), past vice president with the Michigan Charter Boat Association, past president of the Grand Haven Charter Boat Association, and was a United States Coast Guard Licensed Master for 20 years.

In retirement, Ken and Fran became Snowbirds in Destin, Florida where they spent their winters involved in many activities. Ken served as the president of the Destin Snowbirds from 2002-2003, and coordinated the popular weekly casino trips to Biloxi, Mississippi for 23 years. Ken enjoyed handing out candy in the Christmas Parade, and was recognized as the longest serving volunteer in the history of the Destin Snowbirds Club.

Ken is survived by his sister, B. Shirley (Chester) Wong of Vancouver, B.C., Canada; three children, Debra Sue (Fred) Goetz of Seattle, WA, Robert "Bob" Guy (Ann) Yee of Northbrook, IL, and Tracey Lynn Yee of Corvallis, OR; and two grandchildren, Kenneth James Yee and Dara Nancy Yee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Yee Cho Kong and Mae Chow; his wife, Frances Sue Yee; and brother, Robert Gordon Yee.

A Celebration of Ken’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Klaassen Family Funeral Home with Ken's son, Bob Yee officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Apostles Mausoleum, Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the United States Power Squadrons Educational Fund.

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