Kenneth D. Gorno

Click on the tribute wall above to view Kenneth's video tribute. Kenneth Donlon Gorno, Sr., age 89 of Trenton, Michigan passed away on January 17, 2022 in his home. Ken served his community as a firefighter from 1965 until he retired in 1990 as captain of the Trenton Fire Department. Ken also served as an EMT for many of the years he served on the force. Ken shared his amiable attributes with everyone he met: a greeting of genuine excitement followed by questions about one’s life and family - all the while being truly happy he had the opportunity to see a loved one or friend. These encounters allowed Ken the chance to pour out his love for others. He displayed an amazing sense of humor in which he thoroughly enjoyed making people laugh. His funny tales always included the perfect degree of exaggeration. Ken’s love of the outdoors was so obvious as well, and he especially loved hunting Michigan’s white-tailed deer. He also hunted pheasants and relied on a long line of hunting dogs. This passion for hunting passed on to many generations of children, nephews, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and friends. Ken and Barb lived in East Tawas, MI for many years and their children and grandchildren will always have loving memories of days spent at “the cabin.” Ken had a strong passion for sports from a young age. He swam on the swim team in high school. He later became a state champion bowler, avid softball player, and played golf right up until his last summer of life. He enjoyed being a referee of high school swim meets and football games. But most of all he loved to watch his grandchildren compete in numerous sports. The most important aspect of life for Ken Gorno was his family. He cherished his wife Barbara, to whom he would have been married 65 years on January 26. He adored his six children with his whole heart. He loved and respected his extended family, too, and taught his children to love God and family as deeply as he loved. Ken’s legacy as a loyal firefighter and brilliant hunter will be recalled often; but more importantly, his role as husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, grandfather, and friend will never be forgotten. He was preceded in death by his daughter Angela Beckham, brother Michael J. Gorno and son-in-law Scott Carlson. He is survived by his beloved wife Barbara Gorno, children: Leslie Demarco (Jeffrey and children Maria Cassar (Domenic) and Laura), Nancy Carlson (and children Rachel, Clare, and Mary), Mary Scheffler (Kurt and children Anna Grace and Ryan), son-in-law Josh Beckham (and children Alaina, Nate, Janise and Josephine), Jackie Czarnecki (Bob and children Michael (Celine), Barbara, Patrick, Antoinette, Angelo and Joseph), Kenneth Jr. (and children Caroline and Leila), six great-grandchildren, sister Dolores Howey, and many nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions to Hospice of Michigan or St. Vincent de Paul would be appreciated by the family.