Kenneth C. Ludema

Kenneth C. Ludema, age 86 of Ann Arbor passed away April 13, 2015. He was the devoted husband of Johanna Frances Ludema and the loving father of Thomas (Fariba), James (Beverlee), Rodney (Evonne), Karen (Stephen Humphrey), Janet Wolf (Dan), and Joel Kass (Sarah). He had 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents Otto and Johanna Ludema. Ken was born in Dorr, MI April 30, 1928 and grew up on a muck farm growing celery and onions. At age 15, he moved with his family to Coopersville, MI where he began working in his father’s welding shop. He loved work and held a wide variety of interesting jobs before and after serving two years in the Army, including bicycle repair, auto renovation and resale, driving a school bus, picking up milk from dairy farmers, operating a bull dozer, hauling gravel, transporting mobile homes across the country, working for Heckman’s bakery and Ford motor company, and owning a root beer stand. In 1948, he began an academic career that lasted 67 years. He entered a pre-engineering program at Calvin College and received Bachelor and Master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He then completed two Ph.D. programs, one in material science at Michigan and one in physics at Cambridge University. He went on to pursue a distinguished career as Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, specializing in the friction and wear of materials. He was still working energetically on his latest book at the time of his death. In addition to his family and his work, Ken loved God and the church. He was a leader in the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church for nearly 60 years and was known for his big heart, delightful sense of humor, and many acts of service. His greatest gift was that he fully embodied the love, joy and compassion of Christ and gave them freely to others. A visitation for all friends and family will be held Sunday June 21 from 3-6 PM, and the Memorial Service will be held June 22 at 11 AM with a light lunch served afterward. Both events will be held at the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church, 1717 Broadway in Ann Arbor. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the African Scholarship in Engineering at Calvin College, Ken’s alma mater. Ken and Jo established the scholarship in 2010 to support students from Africa who want to pursue careers in engineering. Donations can be made online at www.calvin.edu or by check to the Office of Development, Calvin College, 3201 Burton St., SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. To share a memory, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Kenneth C. Ludema

April 30, 1928 - April 13, 2015