Kenneth Belonga

Kenneth Belonga

Kenneth Belonga of Trout Lake was a lifelong construction worker who worked for Baaco Construction, for 10 years for D&B Construction, and for McMahan Construction. He also worked on the Poe Lock construction job in the Soo Locks on the St. Marys River. He plowed snow for several years at Raco Air Base, and he retired after 20 years of work for Belonga Plumbing and Excavation in 2000. In 2001, he suffered a stroke, and was disabled since then.

Mr. Belonga was 69 when he died Sunday morning, March 2, 2008, at his home, following a long struggle with cancer.

He was born February 8, 1939, in St. Ignace, to Francis "Dooley" and Elsie (nee Sorenson) Belonga.

Over his lifetime, he came to know nearly everyone, friends and family members said, and he will be missed for his friendly ways and caring nature. Mr. Belonga was a former Moose Lodge member, and was also a bartender at the lodge before the current lodge was built on Mackinac Trail.

He married Gladys Colegrove July 10, 1965, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace.

Mr. Belonga is survived by his wife, Gladys; three sons and a daughter and their families, Kevin and Kym Belonga of St. Ignace, Brian and Tara Belonga of Trout Lake, Kenneth Jr. and Brandi Belonga of St. Ignace, and Lori Belonga of Cheboygan; four brothers and their families, Robert and Ann Belonga of St. Ignace, Gene and Pat Belonga of Yuma, Arizona, Larry and Linda Belonga of St. Ignace, Jack and Georgia Belonga of St. Ignace; three sisters and their families, Sally and Jack Bingaman of Yale, Oklahoma, Molly Chartrand of St. Ignace, and Nancy Fuser of St. Ignace; 13 grandchildren, and four greatgrandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church. Father Allen Mott will officiate.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Dodson Funeral Home in St. Ignace, followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m.

Spring burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Trout Lake.

Six of Mr. Belonga's grandsons will serve as pallbearers.