Charles Kenneth Harle

Charles Kenneth, a 56 year resident of Grosse Pointe Farms, passed away on the morning of September 18th, 2022, at the age of 90. He was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey on November 30th, 1931 to Miriam Hepburn Harle and Charles Kenneth Harle Sr. They lived in many states as his father sought work during the depression. The family finally settled in Miami, Florida. With the beginning of World War II, Ken's family moved to Tucsan, Arizona where his parents were employed making B-24 bombers. After the war's end, the family returned to Miami where Kenneth completed his public education at Jackson High School. After a short employment at Eastern Airlines, he joined the United States Air Force in 1950. Ken's military career included schools for Aircraft Mechanics, Aircraft Instruments and AutoPilots. His first assignment was in the Pacific at Hickam AFB, in Hawaii and the Kwajalein Island in the Marshall Islands. He completed his four year enlistment at Westover AFB, in Massachusetts. Mr. Harle re-enlisted in the Air Force in October of 1954 and spent the next four years at Selfridge AFB where he met his wife, Marlene Marie Mayer at a USO dance. The couple were married in A...[more]

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st of 1957, a union that lasted 65 years. They had two children, Jonathan Edward and Sabrina Louise. After his discharge in 1958, Kenneth enrolled at Wayne State University, graduating with a BA in History and an ME in Secondary Social Studies. After obtaining a teaching certificate, he taught at Cousino High School in Warren, Michigan for 29 years. Their search for a home was realized when Kenneth and Marlene discovered their love for antiques, and a house they could afford located in Grosse Pointe Farms, built in 1894 and upgraded in 1910, only three blocks from Lake St. Clair. Sailing was Ken's ultimate quest. A fresh breeze, on a starboard tack, heading for the St. Clair Light was nirvana. When he and his wife could no longer safely handle the Tartan 34 Classic, Ken shifted gears and joined the Michigan Fly Fishing Club in 2007, and became a fly fisherman chasing the elusive trout of the AuSable River. Charles Kenneth is survived by his wonderful loving wife, Marlene, his son, Jonathan Edward (Abby) of Tiburon, California and daughter, Sabrina Louise of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by his grandson, Nicholas Lockwood Harle and granddaughter, Natalie Donahoe Harle. He was predeceased by his father, Charles Kenneth Harle Sr., his sister Marjorie June Harle Pate (Monty), and his brother, David Neal Harle. A memorial service will take place on October 22nd, 2022 at 1 pm, at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church, 8625 E. Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI 48214. Donations may be sent to the Michigan Fly Fishing Club, PO Box 530861, Livonia, MI 48153. But, it did not need to end this way. His death was the result of having a melanoma on the heel of his foot that several medical professionals failed to recognize until it was too late. It is a shame that his life of 90 years was cut short, for he was otherwise healthy, active and looking forward to driving up north and fly fishing on the AuSable River this Fall.