Dr. Kenneth Luke Machiorlatti (“Dr. Mac”) age 84, of Grand Rapids, died unexpectedly Tuesday February 11th, 2025, in the comforts of his home. Kenneth was born June 29th, 1940, in Atlanta, Georgia to Luke & Hazel Burke. After losing his father at the early age of 8, he was adopted by his mother’s sister, Gretchen, and her husband, George Machiorlatti. They raised Kenneth in Detroit and South Lyon, MI.
Growing up, Kenneth had a love for the outdoors, sports & education. He graduated HS from Saint Mary’s of Redford in 1958. While there he played football where he was a star defensive end. During his tenure there they won a city title. After HS, he focused his education pursuits in the field of medicine, where he graduated with his BS from University of Detroit Mercy and then went on to Wayne State University for medical school where he eventually graduated in 1966. While in his residency at Providence Hospital and rotation at Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, Kenneth met the love of his life, Carol Oddo of Royal Oak. Soon after they met they married in 1966. Over the course of their marriage they had 7 children (Two girls and 5 boys).
Early in his medical career, Kenneth served our country as a Captain in the Air Force, stationed at Medical Company Irwin Army Hospital, Ft. Riley Kansas and was honorably discharged with a National Defense Service Medal. Kenneth was a well-respected pathologist, practicing for 46 years with subspecialties in dermatopathology, hematopathology and cytopathology.
Kenneth was preceded in death by parents, Luke & Hazel Burke and George & Gretchen Machiorlatti, brothers, Jerry (Dorothy) Burke and Dennis Burke, and his wife Carol Machiorlatti (Oddo). He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Kelly, Karen, Michael (Judith), John, Daniel, Joel, and Nathan Machiorlatti; his sister Mary Lou Rogers; sister-in-law Harriette Burke of his late brother Dennis Burke; grandchildren Madison Machiorlatti, Colin Waldron, Miranda & Matthew Machiorlatti; and all his remaining friends and family.
He will be greatly missed for his devotion to his family and friends, his faith in God, talks about continual learning, his enthusiasm as a “gentleman” farmer, his uncanny passion and zest for food and seeing him with his Russian hats!
Visitation will be held Friday, February 21, 2025, from 2 – 5 pm at Arsulowicz Brothers Remembrance Mortuary, 3525 Remembrance Road NW, Walker, MI 49534. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12 PM Saturday, February 22, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 404 North Dayton Street, Davison, MI 48423. The family will welcome visitors from 10:30 AM until the time of the Mass on Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Donation’s on Kenneth’s behalf can be made to either of the two charitable organizations.
1) Operation Smile https://www.operationsmile.org/
2) American Legion https://www.legion.org/