Ishpeming, MI - Kevin S. Bannon, age 66, of 1280 Cooper Lake Road, Ishpeming passed away on Wednesday September 6, 2017 at St. Mary's Hospital - Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN while waiting for a lung transplant.

Kevin was born October 10, 1950 in Escanaba, MI to Charles F. and Betty P. (Oie) Bannon. He grew up Ishpeming where he graduated from Ishpeming High School, class of 1968 and received a bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University in 1972. He worked for Cleveland Cliffs for over 40 years, working as a maintenance man and retired as a toolman in 2015 from the Tilden Mine.

Kevin coached his children's baseball teams in the Ishpeming Little League and Tri-City Softball. He enjoyed family genealogy and was a history buff. He was a volunteer at the Ishpeming Historical Museum. Kevin enjoyed mountain biking, being a member of RAMBA. He was known by his co workers at the Tilden as "the nicest guy at the mine."

Kevin is survived by his wife Rebecca A. (Freeman) Bannon, whom he married on July 27, 1974, 3 children: Erin Bannon of Neenah, WI, Ryan (Christine) Bannon of Johnson City, TN, and Bryanne (John) Herendeen of Three Rivers, MI, 4 grandchildren: Isabelle and Emma Pool, Kate Bannon and Stella Herendeen, 3 sisters: Bryn (Michael) Smith of Marquette, Jolie (Peter) Dzanbozoff of Gladstone and Heidi (Floyd) Johns of Negaunee, God-daughter Gretchen Richardson, along with nieces and nephews. Kevin was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Betty Bannon and a brother Tain Bannon.

Kevin's family will greet relatives and friends from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon on Monday, September 11, 2017 at the Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home where funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon with Rev. Kenneth Lahners to officiate. Interment will take place in the Ishpeming Cemetery.

A luncheon will follow at the Trinity Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be directed to the Ishpeming Area Historical Museum, 308 Cleveland Ave., Ishpeming, MI 49849. Kevin's family would like to encourage everyone to consider being an organ donor and make that known to your family.

The family would like to thank the nurses, doctors and staff at St. Mary's and Mayo Clinic for the excellent care Kevin received throughout his illness.

Kevin's obituary may be viewed at bjokandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.

The funeral service recording, when it becomes available, can be found here .