Kenneth L. Bodell

Madison, WI / Munising

Kenneth L. Bodell, age 90, of Madison, Wisconsin and formerly of Bark River and Munising, Michigan died Sunday, January 25, 2026 at Oak Park Place in Madison, WI. He was born on March 14, 1935 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to the late Kenneth E. and Caroline M. (Odam) Bodell. After high school he joined the Coast Guard and while stationed in Munising met Elaine Mary Moe and they were married on December 17, 1955. Ken was transferred to Grand Marais where he and Elaine were the last keepers of the Au Sable Lighthouse. Ken attended Michigan Tech University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry Management. He used that degree for over thirty-four years for the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Ken and Elaine were longtime residents of Bark River, MI where they were members of the Delta County Square Dancing Club and Bethany Lutheran Church. They loved camping with the Good Samaritans group. Ken was an active member of Delta Lodge 185 of Free Masons in Escanaba, MI. He loved volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America while living in Burnsville, Minnesota, particularly helping his son Kenny earn his Eagle Scout award. Ken was a favorite resident at Oak Park Place where he lived in both independent apartments and assisted living. The staff at Oak Park Place enjoyed his humor and easy-going personality.

We thank the staff at Oak Park Place and most recently Agrace hospice care in Madison. We are very grateful for the past eight years that we spent with Dad in Madison. We laughed, celebrated, danced and sang. Now he’s celebrating with the rest of the family that has gone before him. He will always be remembered with love and laughter.

Ken is survived by his children – Raelynn Bodell and Kristine (Jim) Kok all of Madison; grandchildren – Grant Goodman, Gabriel (Brooke Soltis) Goodman, Spencer (Maher) Hakim, and Seth (Hannah) Kok; great-grandchildren – Henry and Silas Kok. He was preceded in death by his parents – Ken and Caroline; wife – Elaine Bodell; infant son – Kenneth Lee; son - Kenneth “Kenny” E. Bodell II, and grandson Garrett Goodman.

Service will be held at Eden Lutheran Church and interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in the spring in Munising.