Kenneth Glen "Big Ken" Merkins' Obituary
Kenneth Glen Merkins “Ken”, age 80, passed away around 7:00am Sunday, April 26, 2026 from a severe hemorrhagic stroke after being rushed to Trinity Health – Muskegon Hospital, peacefully surrounded by his family. He was born November 1, 1945 in Grand Haven, MI to Carl and Verna (Page) Merkins and lived in the area all of his life. Ken attended the one-room school house in Nunica, Michigan until grade 8 and he graduated from Coopersville High School in 1963 where he ran cross country, played baseball and football, and caused lots of trouble with his teachers. Ken earned his associates degree from Muskegon Community College where he was also on the Cross Country Team bringing MCC two national championships. He was even inducted into the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame for Cross Country in June of 2019. On December 29, 1978, he married Teresa Kay Fazakerley “Terri” in Muskegon. Ken was raised in the faith at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Nunica, was a member of Lakeshore Lutheran Fellowship Church for about 20 years in Ferrysburg where he also served on the Governance Ministry Board. Ken and Terri were most recently attending Harvest Bible Church in Spring Lake. Ken instilled a strong love for Jesus in his whole family and lived out the legacy he intended to leave every day through his Christ-Centered approach to everything; always putting others before himself. Ken was also a longtime supporter of WCSG Christian Radio Station and generously gave of his financial gifts for many years, even sponsoring the opening of several orphanages in Honduras. He and Terri also sponsor several children through Compassion International. Ken’s heart for giving out of the abundance God had given him was beyond comparison and he truly had a heart for building God’s kingdom through his generosity. Ken was a determined and hard-working man, even building his own house without any training in home building, without any power tools, and passed every home inspection with flying colors! Ken and his family have made countless memories in this house and the family will continue to carry on his legacy there for years to come. Ken had a drive for business ownership at a young age, starting his first entrepreneurship as a pickle farmer during his younger years. Ken owned and operated Centron Data Services which he and his close business partners (and friends) took over to run as a separate entity from JSJ Corporation in the early 1990s. Ken treated Centron and each and every employee as his family, he poured his heart and soul into ensuring that the company was run like a close family rather than a business and deeply cared about every person he felt responsible for like he was the father and they were his kids. He would have worked forever if Covid has not forced him into retirement in 2022. Ken loved his family more than anything and enjoyed spending time with all of them. Ken was an avid hunter and fisherman, some of his best memories were at deer camp bonding with his sons and grandsons and taking his family ice fishing, creek fishing, and even on some special trips to Alaska, Canada, lake Michigan, and the Manistee River. Ken instilled the love of card playing in his whole family, passing it down from his parents and enjoyed always playing euchre, 3-13, up and down the ladder and so much more. He played on a cribbage league with his daughter at the VFW in Grand Haven for many years, even taking first place one of the seasons. Ken instilled strong family traditions into the whole family. There are cherished, unique memories that will live on because of Ken such as the annual Father’s Day lawn jart tournament which even had a trophy that passed from winner to winner year after year, Christmas Eve with Santa visiting after church and bringing presents to all of the kiddos, 4th of July fireworks at the farm after a long day of food, family, and fun, and countless celebrations for all of the birthdays of his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. Survivors include his loving wife, Terri Merkins; 5 children: Todd (Kim) Merkins, Shari (Doug) Laug, Jeremy (Betsy) Merkins, Karri Kluting, and Jayme (Megan) Merkins; 15 grandchildren: Hunter Merkins, Cameron & Mackenzie Jager, Jaxsyn (Dalton West) Partridge; Taylor (Jessica) Laug, Travis (Kaley) Laug, Kalie (Chris) Becerra; Courtney & Nash Merkins; Ashley & Lydia Kluting; Jaymeson, Julien, Juniper, & Josephine Merkins; 8 great grandchildren (plus one on the way due in June): Walker, Rhett & Ellison Laug; Piper & Mack Laug; Lilah, Ivy & Griffin Becerra; 2 sisters: Dixie Coleman, Kathleen (Thomas) Webb; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and “adopted favorite sons” Roger Susterich and Nate Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Verna Merkins, his brother, David Merkins; his in-laws, Paul and May Fazakerley; brother-in-law Jim Coleman; sister-in-law Denise Provencher, and brother-in-law Vern Wilson. Visitation services will be held at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey Street, Norton Shores, MI 49444 Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 5:00-8:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, May 1, 2026 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey Street, Norton Shores, MI 49444, with Pastor Chris Boehnke officiating. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service with a light meal to follow. Interment will take place at Nunica Township Cemetery for the family. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be directed to Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan – Grand Rapids Chapter. Sign the online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com
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