Stephen Kellow
Stephen Kellow, age 70, passed away on Sept. 3, 2025. Born in May of 1955, he was raised in Lansing, spending summers in Eagle Harbor. Steve was gifted in the field of mechanics. During high school at JW Sexton High School, he worked at a small service station – thus beginning his life’s career. He completed education and training as a master mechanic and continued in the field, working for an Oldsmobile garage in the Lansing area.
He moved to the Upper Peninsula, attended the Michigan Tech University Ford Center in the sawmill village of Alberta, where he earned an associate’s degree in diesel mechanics and welding.
He joined the Calumet Village Department of Public Works for a number of years, ensuring that all village equipment was in working order and keeping village roads snow free in the winter.
He spent time living in Cheboyan working in various positions, and then moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was an important part of the Department of Parks and Recreation. He loved working at Bay Beach Amusement Park and was part of the group that acquired plans and recreated the wooden roller coaster, “Zippin Pippin” in 2010.
He retired from Green Bay and moved to Eagle Harbor.
He joined the village of Calumet as the head of the Department of Public Works, kept village equipment operational, maintained streets, and organized snow removal in the winter. The Copper Dog Organization named Steve the “Snow Guru,” as it was his responsibility to fill Fifth Street with snow for the weekend race.
Eagle Harbor Township was his last formal position, performing vehicle maintenance, running the village transfer station, and plowing snow, among many other responsibilities.
He was a trustee for St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, an officer in the Keweenaw Lions Club, and in Keweenaw Kernewek.
Steve loved the outdoors, skiing, motorcycles, boats, fishing, berry picking, plowing snow, puttering in either of his two garages, time with family and friends, and helping others whenever he could. His was the first name spoken whenever there was a question or problem that involved anything mechanical.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Joyce Kellow.
Surviving relatives are his wife, Lynda; sister, Sharon MacKenzie (James); cousin, Michael Lantz; nephews, Bryan MacKenzie (Beth), Michael MacKenzie (Meredith), Bryan Finnegan; great nieces, Ava MacKenzie, Ella MacKenzie; and great nephews, Connor MacKenzie, and Briggs Finnegan.
A remembrance service will be held sometime in early summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Copper Country Humane Society (Houghton), St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Church (Eagle Harbor), or Keweenaw Lions Club (Mohawk).