TRAVERSE CITY — Alfred Kavalar, 98, of Old Mission Peninsula, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at Munson Hospice House in Traverse City. Alfred was born on Thursday, June 26, 1913, to the late Andrew and Marie (Holesck) Kavalar in Weisenfels, Austria.
Entering into marriage with the former Alice E. Haslam on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 1933, in Detroit, they would share 73 years together before Alice's death on Nov. 7, 2007.
An engineer for Ford Motor Company as well as Masland Corp., Alfred was best known for his invention of the Cam Loc open end ratchet wrench.
Alfred was very gifted in his field and would fashion his own tools and parts, whether for a project or to simply fix his son's bicycle. He could always be found fixing something or putting together ideas to improve on something.
Alfred is survived by his children, James, of Old Mission, Dorothy Miner, of Grand Rapids, and John (Patricia), of Inkster; his nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents and wife, Alfred was preceded in death by his son, Thomas; his brothers, John and Raphael, and two half-brothers, Louis and Marie.
Memorial services will be held in the spring at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City, with the date and time to be announced then.
For a more lasting memorial, the family would suggest that Alfred's memory be honored through a memorial contribution to Munson Hospice House, c/o Munson Regional Health Care Foundation, Grace Episcopal Church or to a charity of one's own choosing.
Please share memories of Alfred with his family by way of the guestbook found at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.
The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Archive: Saturday
Alfred Kavalar
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- Death Notices: 05/26/2012
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