GREEN GARDEN, Mich. -Denis Michael Kallery, age 69, of 101 County Road BX, Green Garden Location, passed Tuesday morning, July 3, 2012, at his home, in the loving care of his friends, family, and Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice.
Born January 29, 1943 in Detroit, a son of Louis and Ethel (Kendy) Kallery, Denis was raised in Dearborn and graduated in 1961 from Edsel Ford High School. He moved to Marquette when he attended Northern Michigan University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Following graduation, he worked on a study of wolf behavior in the Upper Peninsula. Denis was employed for over 15 years as a biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and for over 20 years he ran his own business as a fine craftsman. Denis especially enjoyed restoring log homes and wooden antique canoes. His talents and interests extended to completely rebuilding his log home, a life-long love of nature and animals, and treasuring time spent with his children and close friends. Denis was a caring, honest, gentle, loving person who lived his life according to the tenets of the Golden Rule. He was a very active member of the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association. Denis' vision and creativity have resulted in a permanent log structure display and a wooden canoe exhibit at the Marquette Regional History Center.
Denis is survived by his partner, Kathryn Klos; his children, Chelsea Kallery, Wendy (Michael Lesiak) Kallery, and Jeffrey (Wendy) Kallery; grandsons ,Dylan and Brenden Kallery; his brother, Louis Kallery; and several nieces and nephews.
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Denis Michael Kallery
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 7 at 2:00 pm outside of Bayshore Veterinary Clinic, 2361 U.S. Highway 41, Marquette, MI and a reception will immediately follow at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1510 M-28 East, Marquette, MI.
The family wishes to offer sincere gratitude to all friends, family, and organizations who offered gentle kindness and support in the final years of his journey. Thoughts, prayers, and helpful hands assured Denis that he was greatly loved and appreciated. He could not have received better care anywhere than that which was provided by the Marquette General Health System, with special thanks to Dr. Amy Weise, Steve Gauldoni, and the nurses in the Marquette General Cancer Center. Thanks as well to the local hospice organizations (including volunteers Becky and Dale) and to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Donations in honor of Denis may be made to Wooden Canoe Heritage Association, P.O. Box 117, Tamworth, NH 03886 or Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter, P.O. Box 968, Marquette, MI 49855, upaws.org.
The Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at www.swansonlundquistfuneralhome.com