Kevin Paul Pond

Kevin Paul Pond was born February 5, 1952 in Munising Michigan and passed (walked on) on May 13, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was proud to grow up in the “West End” of Munising where a bond with friends remained forever. He loved the annual Class of 71 golf outing to which he organized with Darlene Steinhoff and the class of 71 reunions, including the 2020 reunion in Florida.  Kevin was also a proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe.

Kevin is survived by his sons Nicholas K. Pond (Maria R. Ross and her son Derek Ross-Wons) of Marquette, Mi. & David P. Pond of Phoenix, Az.; his stepdaughter Naomi Chavez of Phoenix, AZ (her children Tyler Staicer and Sasha Jimenez), and his former wife Olga Zepada of Glendale. Az.; his brothers Michael  J. “Bull” Pond (Patti Spengler) of Marquette, Patrick J. “Fish” Pond (Connie Black-Pond)  of Portage, Mi., Jami Tredeau Pond, widow of Ken “Otis” Pond, (Deanna) of Gladstone and Gregory A. “Ponzie” Pond (Mary Ellen) of Munising, his nieces Rachel Johnson (Gabriel), Trisha Reynolds (Johnny), Laural Lee Pond (Jeff Zinski), Karrin Sporer (Tyler), Samantha Pond Bailey (Andy), Ashley Motley  & Rachel Fostun  (Derek Ellis); his  nephews Nathan Pond (Kimberly), Ryan Pond, Zachery Pond (Nicolette) & Bryce Pond,  and  great nephews / nieces including Carson, Levi  & Harlow Pond of Marquette, Sigurd & Ingrid Johnson of Marquette, Rita Ruth & John “JT” Reynolds of Chicago, Jackson and Evelyn Bailey of Lansing, Savannah Motley of Virginia, Leila Rose Ellis and Leo Fitzgerald Fostun of Reno, NV; Jaxson, Kylie, Karsyn and Sawyer Pond of Gladstone.  His paternal cousins George (Kathy) Pond of Iron Mountain, Bryan (Joy) of Plainwell, Sue Welke (Mark) of Marquette, and maternal cousin, Bruce (Celeste) Passinault of Dade City, Fl and numerous second cousins and great nieces and nephews. He is also survived by close friends Larry Dunklee of Venice, Fl. (Munising), Dennis “Spike” VanLandschoot (Munising), Mark Passiatore and Steve Stettler (both of Phoenix).

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Alfred and Catherine (Allen) Carefelle; his paternal grandparents, David and Pearl (Cooper) Pond; Nick and David’s grandparents, Alfredo Chacon Zepeda and Olga Marina Zepeda; his father, Francis N. Pond; his mother, Rita B. Pond Hedglin; his step-father, Winn Hedglin; his aunt and uncles, Al and Pat Pond, and Julia and Earl Passinault; his brother, Kenneth J. Pond; his Sister in Law, Ruth K. Pond; and close friend, Brad Benam of California (previously of Munising).

Kevin graduated from Mather High School in 1971, then attended Bay Community College from 1972-74, playing for the basketball team, He graduated from San Diego State University in the Spring of 1986. Kevin remained active in continuing his education both in his military and civilian career as an echocardiogram professional. Kevin became an adjunct instructor sharing his decades of cardiovascular echocardiogram experience with his pupils in the Maricopa Community College system later in his life, providing instruction to many people who continue in the field to this day.

Kevin entered the United States Navy in 1974, stationed at Balboa Naval Hospital until 1978, then joined the California Army National Guard in 1979. He served four years as a Navy Corpsman spending much of this time stationed at the Navy Hospital in San Diego, California. There Kevin was introduced to the emerging field of echocardiogram. This would develop into a lifelong civilian career which he continued to work in well into his late 60s.  Years after joining the National Guard, he earned the rank of Major, and later was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in August 2008. After his combined active and reserve service totaling more than 36 years, he retired from the Army Reserves in January 2013. Kevin’s combined active and reserve service totaled more than 36 years including several foreign deployments, including Germany and Korea. He was a member of the American Legion (Munising).

Kevin was a sports enthusiast. In High School, he played football, basketball and wrestling. He coached little league for several years with “Dunks” for the Munising Moose Lodge team and played fast pitch softball for several years before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. He was a great teammate in every team he was on and was very entertaining, especially when impersonating the humorist Jerry Lewis. In Arizona, he coached youth sports for more than 10 years, often times head coaching multiple teams in the same season, while also refereeing soccer matches. Following Nick and David’s active involvement as soccer players, Kevin continued to be actively involved in the sport, continuing as a referee. His refereeing career saw him travel to tournaments throughout the Southwest United States and Hawaii. He refereed all ages and skill levels, rising to the level of refereeing Division 1 NCAA games, community college, AIA High School, and he continued refereeing youth soccer throughout his career. Since his retirement and spending summers in Michigan, he was a NMU Wildcats Hockey season ticket holder, loved attending Northern Michigan University sporting events and Munising Mustang football games (watching his nephew Ryan play). He was also an avid Michigan State Spartan football fan attending at least one game a year with his 3 brothers.   Kevin was a Detroit Pistons, Red Wings, Tigers & Lions fan, then recently tired of the Lions way started following the Green Bay Packers as his favorite NFL team. He also attended Phoenix Coyotes & Suns games with his great friends.

He loved his boys, his Munising family and lived life!

Visiting time with dear family and friends will take place on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at the Pond family home, affectionately known as “The West End” (923 W. Munising Avenue) from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Military honors will be rendered by the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard and committal prayers led by Father Michael Ocran on Tuesday, July 6th at 2:00 p.m. at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Munising American Legion Post 131, 610 W. Munising Avenue, Munising, MI  49862.