Kenneth David Powers

Kenneth (Ken) David Powers

Of Parma left us suddenly on November 9, 2020 at the young age of 63, surrounded by friends he considered an extension of his family. He was born on 1/11/1957 at Mercy Hospital to Theodore and Emily Powers of Jackson.  Ken is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Elizabeth (Betsy) and their children, Pamela (Christopher) Sturgill, Bryan (Heather) Powers and treasured grandchildren, Jakob, Adam, Levi and Abigail.  He is also survived by his siblings Jim (Dorothy), Richard (Sharon) and Evelyn Hanchett, along with numerous nieces and nephews.  Ken was preceded in death by both parents, sister Dorothy, brother-in-law Lou O’Connor and brother-in-law Cliff Hanchett.  Ken was a 1976 graduate of Parkside High School in the Jackson Public Schools System where his favorite classes were the woodshop and drafting. He earned degrees at Jackson Community College and Eastern Michigan University.  He majored in Industrial Arts.  Teaching positions included the Ingham County Career Center and East Jackson Public School District. While working at East Jackson, he was given the opportunity to build a wood shop with all brand new equipment.  He believed strongly in the importance of the life skills taught and tailored projects that would appeal to the individual student. He used those building, drafting and welding skills every day.  For several years, Ken was purchasing distressed properties. He and his wife worked side by side to bring those properties back to livable conditions to use as rentals and resale.  He ran a lawn maintenance business for ten years.   During his tenure with East Jackson, Ken became a building inspector for Sandstone Charter Township.  Once retired from teaching, he devoted his time as a building inspector to various neighboring townships and villages.  His strength was working with people.  He always would say “if I just listen, oftentimes concerns take care of themselves.”  Ken always had multiple projects in process between building inspections, farming, keeping his equipment maintained or raising chickens, and would often be found in the barn or on a tractor.  He enjoyed his family and was so proud of his children and grandchildren.  He would always include them in the current project on hand.  Not afraid to see what would happen, “Papa” (or “PopPop”) was usually involved in any questionable experiments the grandkids presented and Saturday nights were usually spent eating Little Debbie snack cakes and watching reruns of his favorite shows.  The family would like to extend their thanks to the quick actions of the Sandstone Charter Township Board members, Parma-Sandstone Fire Department and the emergency room department at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital.  The family would also like to extend appreciation to the Parma Baptist Church, the staff of Parma Elementary, the 4-H friends and family and the Cross-Country Chargers 4-H group for taking care of all the preparations for the luncheon to be provided after the service.

The family will receive friends at the Watson Funeral Chapel in Jackson on Friday, November 13, 2020 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm and 6:00pm – 8:00pm and Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 10:00am with a service to follow at 11:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ken may be given to the family to be distributed among the grandchildren.

Please express your condolences to the family at www.watson-funeral-chapels.com.

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