Dr. Marvin C Kaski

On May 3rd, 2022, Dr. Marvin Carl (Doc) Kaski, 87, of Escanaba, Michigan, was reunited with his beloved wife Barbara – who preceded him in death in 2012. He had been residing at Sunny View AFC in Flat Rock and died from natural causes.

Marvin was born in Crystal Falls, Michigan on September 3rd, 1934 to Edith (Lind) and Eino Kaski and grew up on the Kaski family farm with his older siblings Donald and Geraldine. Marvin cherished his memories of growing up on the farmstead and often visited later in life to reminisce and share stories with family members. He grew up working hard – having daily chores taking care of animals and the farm in general – yet still committed himself to success in sports and scholarship.

Attending Forest Park High School in Crystal Falls, Marvin was a stand-out point guard in basketball (despite his short stature), and was known throughout the U.P. for his basketball ability, leadership, and sportsmanship. It was during this time when he met the love of his life and Prom Queen (to his Prom King) Barbara Plankey.

He was also very active in the Iron County 4-H Club and earned a full scholarship from the organization to attend Michigan State College (now MSU). Marvin’s kind disposition, love for animals, and experience with livestock led him to study Veterinary Medicine.

During his time at MSU, he and Barbara married and started their family. He worked hard during summer breaks from his studies to support his family through various jobs, including stints laboring in the Iron County mines. After his graduation from MSU as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), the family returned to Crystal Falls where Marvin opened his own practice. Due to economic considerations, the family moved to Bay City, Michigan where Marvin worked as a meat inspector for the state and then to Green Bay, Wisconsin for a similar position. The family desired to return to the U.P., and Marvin to practice his calling, and in 1969 they purchased and renovated an old gas station on U.S. 2, between Escanaba and Gladstone, and established the Bay Veterinary Clinic.

With Barbara as the office manager and Marvin attending to pets and making ‘farm calls’, they operated the clinic until his retirement in 1992. He was a professional and practical veterinarian who served his clients well and served his ‘patients’ with compassion. And many misfit or unwanted animals made their way home with him.

As a young adult Marvin was quite an accomplished fast-pitch softball hurler for the Infield Bar of Crystal Falls and his teammates from those years were his life-long friends.

Over the years, Marvin maintained huge vegetable gardens and an apple orchard and enjoyed daily treks through the woods with his dog (or dogs). Throughout his childhood and until his final hours, he always had a canine companion at his side. He enjoyed golfing with his friends (although he would be quick to admit that he was no good at it) and with them he created the annual Bass Festival ‘Closed’ golf outing. He was involved in the Wells Lions Club and Wildlife Unlimited for many years and had life-long friends from these groups. Marvin was a shrewd card player and a sought out teammate for Trivial Pursuit during family gatherings – his depth of knowledge spanned topics from esoteric to mundane and made him a formidable opponent. He was a crossword puzzle master – passing this interest to his children – and would leave unfinished puzzles on the dining room table as an open challenge.

Marvin’s love of sports that began in his youth never waned. He and Barbara traveled all of Michigan watching their children and grandchildren compete in football, basketball, track, gymnastics, and horse showing. An avid Detroit and MSU sports fan, Marvin attended many games with family over the years.

Marvin was proud of his Finnish heritage and was a fan of St. Urho but he loved St. Patrick’s Day and the parties he threw to celebrate were epic. The Kaski home was a warm and inviting place for family gatherings and holidays, casual get togethers with friends to play cards or pool (he was also somewhat of a pool shark, of course), or for those simply passing by who desired some camaraderie and conversation.
In his later years, Marvin loved to listen to music and sing along. He could recall lyrics to nearly every song he ever heard, even those from his younger days. He loved his alma mater and knew the MSU fight song word for word – it was probably the last song he ever sung.
Marvin was a valued and loyal friend to many and his compassion and companionship will be missed by all who knew him. He was a rare mix of kindness, intelligence, humor, humility, and ability. Gregarious by nature and at the same time a man of few words. But he made his words count: when he spoke you listened because his words contained wisdom.

Marvin has passed beyond the veil to join Barbara, his grandsons Josh Kaski (son of Mike and Reid Kaski) and John Hammar (son of Laurie and Dave Hammar), his parents, his siblings, and many good friends. We are left behind in sadness. We remember him with reverence. And we celebrate that he is reunited with his beloved, in a longing embrace, and dancing eternally.
Marvin is survived by a loving extended family, including:

Daughter Kathleen Paulson (Dan Mylander), grandson Kyle Paulson (Sarah Szwejda), and Dan’s children: Kevin Mylander; Cory Mylander (Jen Sebeck) and their children Ayden, Ailiyah, and Aubrey); and Casey Mylander and his daughter Jersie
Daughter Lynn Curtis (Ken Curtis), and grandsons: Scott Young (Vandanna Young) and their children Kaiden, Maliha, Zoe, and Bella; Jeremy Young; and Griffin Curtis (Melissa) and their daughter Freya
Son Michael Kaski (Reid Sackett), and grandson Shane Kaski
Daughter Laurie Hammar, and granddaughter Sarah Hammar

Son Patrick Kaski (Terri), and grandson Brendan Kaski, and Terri’s children: Joe Young; Eric Young (Amy) and their children Mallory and Avery

The family would like to acknowledge Becky Jacques for the years of compassionate caretaking and genuine friendship she offered Marvin in his later years.

And a special thanks to Julie and the staff at Sunny View for taking excellent care of Marvin and letting him sing and eat cookies to his heart’s content. He was truly happy to be with you.

A celebration of Marvin’s life will be held on July 7th, in Escanaba. Details will be announced by the family. If you would like to help keep his legacy alive, the family requests donations be made in his name to the Iron County 4-H Club to help support youth programs: Iron County 4-H, Iron County Courthouse, 2 South 6th Street, Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Sympathy cards can be sent to Marvin’s daughter, Kathy Paulson, 606 South 9th Street, Escanaba, MI 49829.

The Kaski family is being assisted by the Skradski Family Funeral Home in Escanaba.