Robert Lorin "Buzz" Kersman

Robert Lorin ( Buzz) Kersman passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 26th, 2024. He was a true family man, and will be greatly missed by friends & family.

He was born in Detroit, MI on August 29, 1939 to L. Herb Kersman and Elizabeth Hall Kersman. The family moved to Muskegon when Buzz was three, and he attended North Muskegon Public School until graduating in 1957. He continued his education at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, graduating in 1962. From there he served in the US Army as a lieutenant in the Armor division, joining "Operation Big Lift" in which the Army flew an entire armored division over to Europe.

In December 1963 Buzz married his long time sweetheart, Wendy Morris, and they both returned to Ft. Riley, Kansas where they continued to live until his term of military service was over. Returning to Muskegon with his wife and infant son, Buzz bought Kersman Company from his father, rather than work for him at the then Coil Anodizers. Together he and his father formed a third company, Kersco. Shortly after selling Kersman Company, Buzz joined his father at the then renamed Lorin Industries, taking over the presidency in 1985. He loved his work and the people there and made many improvements including co-generation, a specialized slitter and acid reclamation. He was especially proud of introducing the Scanlon System allowing his employees input to running different aspects of the company. Over a 40 year span at Lorin he formed the Aluminum Anodizing Association, helped found the Muskegon Technical Academy, and joined the Westshore Advisory Board.

Buzz loved his community and his country and served on the Comerica Bank Board until his retirement, as well as GVSU's Seidman School of Business and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. He was a lifelong member of the Community United Methodist Church, and headed up the building fund for their new sanctuary. One of his favorite sayings, learned long ago at Camp Pendalouan, was, "God first; the other man second; and I'm third." This was truly how he lived his life.

Upon retiring, Buzz took a special interest in his 11 grandchildren, buying a small boat to run them across the lake to the country club for junior golf day. After lunch, there was either a swim in the pool or tubing on the lake. He always made time for a quick game of Farkle or cards with them. He also returned to Christmas tree farming and taught several of his grandsons the art of cultivating the land and appreciating the special bounty of being out in nature.

Buzz whole heartedly loved to golf, first playing with his original golf group at the Muskegon Country Club and later moving to White Lake Golf Club where he played many times a week with a group that he learned to cherish. He would always return home from these outings with a smile and story about how this or that went during play. His phone would ping constantly with the banter of their texts.

His was as full a life as humanly possible. He had fine friends he had known and trusted since childhood, friends from work, friends from farming and from golf. His family and his many friends were a top priority in his life, as was his country. "America is the greatest country in the world" he would often say.

SURVIVORS

Wife, Wendy Kersman: Children, James Michael (Jay) Kersman; Loren (Lili) Gordon (Mike); Dorothy Measer (David); Park Kersman (Kacey); Grandchildren, Samantha Kersman, Shane Kersman, Nicholas Gordon, Anna Gordon, Luca Measer, Phoebe Measer, Parker Kersman, Georgette Kersman, Quinn Kersman, Robert Keefe Kersman, Sawyer Kersman; Sister, Katherine Wiley (Rich). He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Stuart, Kenneth, James Jay & Michael.

FUNERAL SERVICE

Thursday, March 7, 2024, 11:00 am at Community United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Blanchard and Rev. Glenn Wagner officiating. Private interment in Restlawn Cemetery.

VISITATION

Wednesday, March 6, 2024 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Clock Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

MEMORIAL

Please consider Community United Methodist Church, the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, or Harbor Hospice