Gary Eugene Kiogima

Gary Eugene Kiogima of Onaway passed peacefully at Villa at the Bay Nursing Home in Petoskey December 14, 2022.  

Gary was a loving husband and father. He and Gail Alfsen were married in October 1993, which gave them 29 years together.  He was previously married and had 15 children altogether.  Emmaline Begley of Mt. Pleasant, Tina Conor of Rapid River, Gary (Stacey) Young of Fairview, Melissa (Brian) Blonde of Mio, Patricia (John) Shemka of Baldwin, Phillip Kiogima of Traverse City, Sarah (Andy) Knudsen of Thompsonville, Jodi (Vito) Maletti of Ashokie, North Carolina, Douglas Bronson of Bear Lake, Dale (Amanda) Armbruster of Grand Blanc, Frank Phipps of Wolverine, John Phipps of Onaway, Robert Ruse-Kiogima of Baldwin, and Shawn (Zoey) Ruse-Kiogima and Patrick (Angela) Ruse-Kiogima of Big Rapids. He had 29 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren

He was preceded in death by his father, Mitchell (Mike) Kiogima; his mother, Doris Tesluk and her husband Stanley Tesluk; a granddaughter, Alicia Begley; and daughter-in-law, Dana Phipps.

Gary spent most of his life driving truck and was fortunate to have spent time in each state including being an ice road trucker in Alaska one year. He also worked for a dock and dredge company and learned to salvage and did underwater welding.  His last job was working as a certified nursing assistant at Bortz in Petoskey. In 1994 he had stroke which left him disabled but he began drawing and painting at that point. Some of his pictures can be seen at Mskiki Gummik Clinic in Petoskey.  

Gary has been cremated and there will be a memorial service for him in the spring of 2023.