Ken Dusseljee

Kenneth D. Dusseljee was born on June 11, 1946 to Leonard and Bertha (Kuilema) Dusseljee. Ken was born and raised in Comstock, Michigan along with his older brother, Russell. Ken’s father worked as a farmer and as a sheet metal worker with Hoekstra Roofing. He has been described as a mischievous little boy. Ken attended Comstock Christian School and in the afternoon’s helped his dad on the celery farm. As a young man, he was drafted into the Army. During his 2 years of service, Ken worked as a cook. He was stationed in Germany and then Kansas.

Life became very exciting for Ken when he met the woman who would forever change the course of his life. Her name was Martha Scott. Ken and Martha were introduced through Ken’s aunt. It did not take long for them to fall in love. With a desire to establish a life together, Ken and Martha were married on August 9, 1968, at Northeastern Baptist Church. It was during the honeymoon that Ken first said to Martha, “I love you deeper than the deepest blue sea”. Ken repeated this saying often to Martha throughout their marriage of 49 years.

Ken’s career took many different paths from working for others to being an entrepreneur. After returning from the service, he was employed by Aeromotive before deciding to start his own business. Ken and Martha purchased land in Comstock where they started K-M Greenhouse, which they owned and operated together for several years. During their greenhouse years, they raised celery and bedding plants. It was also during this time they started their family.

Ken and Martha had two beautiful daughters, Amy and Sara. As the girls began school, Ken and Martha decided to move their family to Florida. In Florida, Ken and Martha owned and operated a printing business, PIP Printing; however, Ken still considered Comstock his home. After his daughters graduated, Ken and Martha returned to Michigan where he was employed by Hoekstra Roofing until he retired.

Ken was the type of person who was always there to lend a helping hand in ways both great and small. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Ken had a contagious sense of humor and he loved making others laugh – even if it was at his own expense. Ken was one to always keep busy. He was an avid fisherman who would fish anywhere and everywhere. A jack of all trades, Ken enjoyed the outdoors and working in his barn. Ken was known as the person that could make anything mechanical work.

Ken was thrilled to become a grandfather. His first granddaughter, Amanda, always held a special place in his heart. He eventually became a grandfather to an additional six grandchildren, Stephanie, Isaiah, Lillian, Ida, Terrell, and Zachariah.

When Ken truly retired, he and Martha became snowbirds and spent their winters in Astor, Florida and their summers in Comstock, Michigan. While in Florida, you could always find Ken and Martha fishing on the St. Johns River in their Lund fishing boat.

Ken was a hardworking man who could appear a bit rough on the outside, but truly loved his family. During the last few years, Martha enjoyed the softer side of Ken and is truly grateful for his patience, care, and love. With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around him, Ken leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that his friends and family will forever cherish. Deeply loved by many, Ken will be forever missed.

Kenneth D. Dusseljee, of Comstock, died unexpectedly on April 15, 2018, at his home. Services will be held at 2 PM on Thursday (April 19, 2018) at Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive; Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. Following the service, friends and family can visit while sharing food and refreshments in the Life Story Center. Please visit his personal web page at www.BetzlerFuneralHome.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his online guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association.