Walter John Martin Kalleberg

Walter John Martin Kalleberg died on Monday 9 Sep 2024 at the age of 83 surrounded by his family following a 20-month battle with declining health. Beloved husband of Dorothy and loving father of Michelle, Lance, and Brad. He was born 9 April 1941 in Minneapolis, MN where he remained until 1954 when he moved to Del Mar, CA. As a young man, he enjoyed the SoCal beach life, bowling, surf fishing, and working on a tuna boat. He also raced hot rods at Pomona National Speedway (where he once held the track record) and earned a degree in Environmental Sciences from San Diego State University. During a trip back to Minneapolis, he met the love of his life Dorothy Ann (Belt) to whom he was happily married for 58 years. They were married in Emerson, NE, honeymooned in Southern California, then lived in Minnesota and Massachusetts before settling in Warren, MI with their children. During their courtship, they enjoyed their fish tank, lava lamp, going on double dates, and frequently visiting jazz clubs and other live music. As his children grew, he enjoyed Michelle’s saxophone performances and coaching / managing numerous baseball and hockey teams for Lance and Brad. As a family, their most cherished memories were going to the cottage “up north” in Bellaire, MI where they loved fishing, water skiing, and eating beer battered fish. His CB Radio Tag and the name of his boat was “The Red Viking,” and he was a lifelong fan of the USC Trojans and Minnesota Vikings. Later in life, Walt and Dorothy loved taking long vacations driving all over the United States and Canada where they visited many national parks, forests, and historical sites. Their favorite spots include Niagara Falls, Arches National Park, visiting Dorothy’s family in Emerson, NE, Hawaii, and going to Disneyland with their grandchildren (and “the people that they lived with”). He was an avid fisherman who traveled to Canada with his good friend Bill Smude to chase monster walleye and was featured as a guest of Babe Winkelman during a trip to Costa Rica. His absolute favorite trip was with his daughter Michelle to Norway, where he traveled the entire country and was able to meet Norwegian relatives. In the 1980’s he received a degree in automotive design and then worked for Ford Motor Co. for 23 years in the Advanced Body Design team in Dearborn, MI until his retirement. After retirement, he received a 3rd degree in photography that prepared him to capture amazing photos of his beloved wife, children, grandchildren and for some unexplainable reason flowers. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter Norman Kalleberg & Shirley Grace Brazil (Reppen); sister Judy; grandparents; and his son Brad. He is survived by his cherished wife Dorothy, daughter Michelle (Bob) Burger of Canton, MI; son Lance (Laurie) Kalleberg of Chula Vista, CA; daughter-in-law Michel Macudzinski Kalleberg of Sterling Heights, MI; and his grandchildren Ashley, Brandon (Adri), Lindsey, Jacqueline, Matthew, Brooke, Justin and great-grandson Daniel. Visitation is Friday, 13 September, 3:00-8:00 pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, 36900 Schoenherr Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48312 (crossroad - Metro Parkway (16 Mile Rd)). Phone: (586) 826-8550 Memorials may be made to the family for future designation. Share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guest Book" WujekCalcaterra.com.

Walter John Martin Kalleberg

April 9, 1941 - September 9, 2024