Eric Carl Ketelsen

Eric Carl Ketelsen

June 24, 1940 -February 14, 2026

Eric Carl Ketelsen was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 24, 1940. His father, Tage Ketelsen, was a Danish immigrant and his mother, Theresa Kjolhede Ketelsen, born in Grant, Michigan was 100% Danish heritage. Eric carried his Danishness proudly for all his 85 years. He was the first born and was followed by siblings, Ellen, Anna Marie and Martin.

The Ketelsen family lived in southeast Michigan where they founded a successful construction company, Tage Ketelsen and Company. TK Inc included Theresa and her brother Axel Kjolhede. Eric and brother, Marty grew into the building trades and carried on the reputation for quality craftsmanship in their careers.

Eric attended Rochester High School, graduating with the Class of 1958. Many classmates were lifelong friends. Reunions were joyous events.

In the fall of 1958 Eric drove his treasured 1940 Ford to Des Moines, Iowa to attend Grand View, a Danish Lutheran College, established by the Grundtvigian (Happy Danes) community. Great grandfather, Pedar Kjolhede was one of the founders in 1896. It was at GVC that Eric met Ginger Olson.

Ginger was from Chicago and had grown up in the Danish congregation of St. Stephen's Danish Lutheran Church. They were married there on June 17, 1960, joining their lives for almost 65 years. Many Grand View classmates remained close friends.

Eric and Ginger settled in Rochester, Michigan, put each other through their college years and raised their children Kurt and Kristin there. Eric received a degree in Architecture from Lawrence Tech (now University). He was a gifted designer and wood worker. The family business became Eric Ketelsen, Inc. Many homes and businesses were the result. He built his family their home at 1361 Axford Place in Rochester and it became a hub for friends and family gatherings in the ensuing years. Eric's talents also included building toys, bridges, furniture, tree houses, musical instruments, and his pinnacle achievement, a wooden kayak.

Eric and Ginger, Kurt and Kristin became deeply involved in their community. Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve, the Rochester Heritage Festival and the Rochester Hills Museum at VanHoosen Farms were important in their lives. Eric also served as a City of Rochester Planning Commissioner and a member of the Board of Directors of the Danish Old People's Home in Rochester.

Eric and his family enjoyed traveling, camping, skiing and especially being a part of Danebod Folk Camp in Tyler, Minnesota where they received their yearly dose of Danish heritage and collected Ole and Helga jokes to be shared and enjoyed with friends.

Life also held challenges. Kurt developed Juvenile Diabetes at age 2 which shortened his life and brought heartache. Bidding farewell to Kurt, to their parents and many friends over the years was hard. Eric courageously and successfully fought episodes of addiction in his middle years. At the end of his life COPD and Alzheimer's Disease were his unwanted companions. Through it all, he lived, loved and laughed with gusto.

Overall, collecting friends was a consuming part of Eric and Ginger's lives. The memories of times with family and friends, celebrating, traveling, working together to "save the world", supporting each other in times of sickness and sorrow all are treasured. Welcoming new members to the family were among the best of times. Kurt married Carol Anne and Kristin married Ray Newer. This resulted in enriching the family with the greatest of blessings, grandchildren: Ethan and Karoline, Jennifer and Caitlin. More recently Jennifer and husband Matthew Burlingame brought great grandchildren to the mix. Brianna, Tessa and (young) Kurt enliven Eric and Ginger's senior years with noisy joy. Thank you, God, for everything good!

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Well done Eric, good and faithful servant. Rest in peace. Amen!