Kenneth Nelson Cottrell, age 95, of Gaylord, MI, passed away at Otsego Memorial Hospital on December 5, 2022.
He was born on April 19, 1927, to Nelson and Carrie Cottrell in Flint, MI. After he graduated from Vanderbilt High School in 1945, he enlisted in the Navy. He married his wife Marian Cherwinski on February 16, 1946. Together they have two children, Gary and Renee.
Ken was always an upbeat, positive, and happy man. He loved talking to people and knew almost everyone in Otsego County.
In his early years, he worked for Pure Oil Company, and later, Johnson Oil Company. He retired from the DNR as a fire officer. He was a pilot and loved flying his float plane to his family cabin in Canada. He spent many summers fishing there.
When he and Marian retired, they spent a month in their little camper driving to Alaska. They spent many winters in Arizona and Florida, as well.
Ken was an avid golfer and enjoyed it well into his 80s. He loved spending time with his family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Kenneth was a member of the Freemasons, as well as an active member of Vanderbilt Community Church.
He is survived by his wife Marian; son, Gary (Donna) Cottrell; and daughter, Renee (Henry) Nowicki; grandchildren, John (Dawn), David (Jodie), and Jennifer (Adam) Brissette; great-grandchildren, Lance, Liza, Logan, Everett, and Nelson.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his father, Nelson; mother, Carrie; brothers, Harold, Keith, and Lawrence; and his sister, Helen.
Services will be held on December 10, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Community Church. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. and a luncheon will be held after the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Vanderbilt Community Church by mailing a check made out to VCC with “Cottrell Memorial” in the memo line, to PO Box 1, Vanderbilt, Mi. 49795.
Arrangements were entrusted to Nelson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.
22 comments on “Kenneth N. Cottrell”
My most sincere condolences to the Family of Kenneth Cottrell. May he rest in peace and may our loving God comfort the family at this very difficult time. 🙏✝️
Are thoughts and prayers are with you. Brad & Kathy Williams
Thank you, Kathy and Brad. Your kindness is appreciated.
We will certainly miss this special member of our family, him and Marion telling their stories of their experiences in Canada are precious to us. We will treasure the memory.
Our sincere sympathy to all his family.
Bev and Dick Cherwinski and family
Dear Gary and Donna, Renee and Henry.
We are so sorry to hear about Ken. He always was so nice to be around. We are sending you our thoughts and prayers.
Paul and Teresa Koronka
Thanks, Teresa and Paul, you are absolutely correct.
Rest in peace my friend, prayers for the family.
We are so sorry for your loss, our prayers and thoughts go out to you all in this difficult time, may Uncle Ken rest in peace.
Rick, Julie, Josh Cottrell and Sonni and Dean Suson
We are so very sorry for your loss. What a wonderful and kind person he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
So sorry for your loss our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I always enjoyed golfing with Ken and Keith and Gene Williams, the boys are all together.
Butch and Debbie Dunham
Rest in peace dear friend. Prayers for you and your family.
To the Cottrell family, Sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. I knew Ken very well thru the DNR. He was a great person and will be missed. Had many cups of coffee with him and many good stories were told. Prayers for the family. We will be thinking about you at this time.
Ken and Marian Cottrell have always had a special place in my heart. Ken was a warm, kind, and thoughtful person and those of us still here will miss him. My thoughts and prayers are with you Marian and Gary and Renee. May Ken. Rest in peace. He gave so much to this world that there will be a vacancy to fill.
DEAR NARIAN AND FAMILY, MY SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS FOR YOU FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR DEAR KENNETH. WHEN GEORGE AND I FIRST MOVED TO VANDERBILT IN 1954 WE MET AND LEARNED OF THE GOOD PEOPLE NAMED COTTRELL.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all your family. Ken was a special person and loved by all. You both hold a special place in my heart. Elsie and John Konopaski
Donna, Gary
Renee, Henry and families
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Ken always had a big smile and was such a kind man. I’m sure he left a lot of wonderful memories. Hugs to you all
Bob and I are so sorry to hear of Ken’s passing. I personally will remember him as “Poopsie Pie” as that is the nick name I gave him when we meet while I worked at Otsego Memorial Hospital with Marion “Granny”. I would see Ken in town, and always called out “Poopsie Pie”, and he would just laugh that special laugh and give me a big hug. He was a gentle soul. Our condolences go out to Marion and the family. Blessing, Bob & Debi Newman
Sincere condolences from your neighbors.
Rest in peace! So many happy memories with Ken (and Marion,) All those trips to Canada! He was always aways cheerful.
So sorry to hear of your loss. Always enjoyed visiting with him always a smile and kind word.
Hugs to all of the family.
Ralph and Betty Johnson
I will always remember Ken and Keith making me try and figure out which one was which when I was a little girl. Always fun to be around. God bless you all. Losing a loved one is always hard.
Marian and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I am so sorry to hear about Ken, he was a very good man and friend. He taught me a lot about fighting forest fires! I always enjoyed working with him at the DNR as a keyman and a contract fire officer. You were my back-door neighbor for a long time. He and his brother Keith had a lot of fun with me trying to tell them apart! I would see Keith and he would say to me he was Ken and visa versa. They had me confused for many years!
Ken, Rest in Peace my friend, you are in heaven with your brothers and friends.