KEN WALZ 2/15/1939--9/22/2018 Big Rapids, Mecosta County and the State of Michigan lost one of its favorite sons when longtime attorney and sportsmens advocate Kenneth Walz passed away unexpectedly at his home early Saturday morning, September 22nd. Visitation will be held Saturday, September 29th from 1 until 3 pm at Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home, 13985 Northland Drive., Big Rapids. Ken is survived by his wife of 39 years, Sueann, his daughters Heather Walz-Tay, husband Kory and Granddaughter Amelia Tay of Tucson, Az., and Erin Walz (Alex Sacalis) and Granddaughter Quinn and Grandson Beau of Phoenix, Az. Also surviving are his brothers-in-law Tom (Wendy) Lyons of Big Rapids and children Jason, Shane and his wife Char and Jim (Val) Lyons of Stanwood, and children John, Ana and Renae. He was preceded in death by his mother, Myrtle Kilgour and Grandson Jack Tay. To understand Ken...a commensurate energized and energizing fighter for whatever cause he deemed appropriate, one has to know him...and the history of this very private man. Ken was born and raised in (his words) rural poverty in South East Michigan. His mother, a single parent, worked as a secretary at Hudson Motors in Detroit. His hardscrabble life began in a small house, with no on-demand hot water...only via a kettle on an electric stove...and a coal stove for radiant heat. He attended a multi-racial public school through the 9th grade...where (his words) knife and razor fights in bathrooms was de rigueur of the time. That summer he and his mother were touring the gardens at Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. viewing flowers, his mothers passion, when he was approached by the headmaster and fortuitously (Kens words) was asked if he would like to apply and write for a scholarship. He did so...and subsequently received a full scholarship, later graduated from that esteemed school with high grades. Following graduation, he applied for and received an academic scholarship to Duke University in North Carolina and following four years, graduated from that University. Upon graduation, Ken worked heavy labor on the Detroit waterfront for 15 months for International Milling (Robin Hood Flour) to scrimp and save money to do two things: to rebuild his mothers home to make it "solid, comfortable and attractive" and head to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan Law School and fulfill his dream of being an attorney. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1964 and in the late summer of that year passed the Michigan State Bar Exam. Ken once commented that working on the Detroit waterfront for those 15 months...as well as every summer during the school year was his "3rd alma mater." Following graduation, Ken worked for a year with General Motors Company in Labor Relations, and after turning down offers from several large law firms, decided to join the smaller firm of Williams and Damon in Grand Rapids. He stayed with that firm for a year and in 1966, moved to Big Rapids and joined forces with long time attorney Nuel Donley and the firm of Donley & Walz was established. It was four years later, when Donley headed for retirement, that Ken decided to specialize and began limiting his practice to Personal Injury and Litigation. In 1970, he opened a satellite office in Traverse City, Mi. And 57 years later, in January of 2013, he opted towards slowing down and retiring. A member of the Mecosta County Chamber of Commerce, the Big Rapids Jaycees and numerous other local organizations, he was instrumental during the 1970s, in spearheading the Big Rapids Public School Bonding proposal that successfully passed. Over those 40 plus years, as an advocate of Sportsmens events, he actively participated in Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Ruffed Grouse Society, as well as heavily donating to local events such as the Holiday Gala and Friends of Ferris. Often misunderstoodbut more often misread...Ken was a fighter. He fought for what he believed in and passionately believed in what he fought for. Ken was a commensurate energized and energizing fighter for the underdog, a fervid believer in the 2nd Amendment and a card carrying member of the National Rifle Association. For those in the know, his rabid exterior was mostly show...coupled with a bit of bluff...a facade rapidly discarded when talking about his family, his beloved four legged companions or his endearment of nature and the outdoors. Other than his wife and family, Ken had two other loves: Traveling and hunting. A world wide traveler, he and Sueann enjoyed exploring and opening new vistas across the continents. His passion for hunting was legendary. He often said one of his most rewarding experiences was hunting with his good friend John Batdorff II in Zimbabwe and "calling in the lions" from their outreach cabin in the brush. Fall was Kens absolute favorite time of the year...as the landscape turned its palate to the hues indicative of the new season. He loved to hunt geese from his blind in the middle of the Muskegon River, a mere stones throw from his home. And he loved spending time at his cabin...his "safe haven"...located in Hinton Township, where he hunted ducks, pheasants and deer, relaxed with his four legged companions and took time for himself to meditate and decompress in his sauna, reflective of his Scandinavian genes. Very active for years in the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, the American Trial Lawyers and the Michigan State Bar Foundation, Ken served eight years on the Kent County Attorney Discipline Board and four years as the Panel #1 Chairperson, as well as on the board of the Negligence Bar Section of the State Bar of Michigan. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Kens name may be given to ARC (Animal Rescue Coalition) of Mecosta County, 18400 220th Ave., Big Rapids, Mi. 49307 or may be sent to Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home, 13985 Northland Dr., Big Rapids, Mi. 49307. Share a memory or condolence by clicking the guestbook tab at www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com The family will greet friends Saturday, September 29, 2018 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home 13985 Northland Drive Big Rapids,Michigan 49307