Kenneth Hemmerly Obituary Kenneth Eugene Hemmerly, age 93 of Shelby passed away on November 26, 2021. Kenneth (Kenny) was born in Shelby Ohio on November 4, 1928 to Gus (Merle) and Daisy (Keckler-Reis) Hemmerly. Kenny retired from the Shelby Salesbook after 42 years. Having worked in positions of driving a delivery truck when he was 16, to working his way up to being the Company Chief Operating Officer when he finally hung up his hat at the age of 58. Kenny met his best friend and love of his life at 13 years of age, and at 18, he married Ann Heckman. Together, they had seven children and were blessed to be married for over 74 years. Kenny had a passion for astronomy and could be found many times in the middle of the night laying in a lawn chair watching the stars with one of his telescopes. He was a proud member of the Warren Rupp Observatory and of the Night Sky Network. As such, Kenny helped organize special club events where the community could learn about Astronomy, various telescopes at the Observatory, and where they could take a look through 'Big Blue' the 36' Newtonian Telescope which he helped to acquire for the Club. He also helped with educational group programs and his favorite was the Planetarium. Kenny along with one of his friends visited and set up a portable Planetarium in Libraries, Schools, and even local Watering Establishments in an effort to educate citizens about astronomical constellations in our night sky. He also worked alongside his wife Ann in organizing the Most Pure Heart of Mary biannual rummage sale for 28 years, working in the kitchen to make noodles for Church fund-raising events, and delivered Meals On Wheels for over 29 years within the Shelby community. Making sure that some Shelby residents were able to eat, Kenny and Ann contributed a large box of nonperishable food staples to the Shelby Help Line Ministries every month for over 30 years. He was also a member of the Shelby Senior Center and personally contributed a sound system to the Center when it first opened. In addition to these activities, Kenny loved family holiday parties, family reunions, playing cards with his friends, fishing, gardening, working in his apple orchard, talking his way onto airplane 'jump seats,' adding elephants to his 2,000 plus elephant collection, and attending monthly birthday club lunch and dinner parties. Even though Kenny was a Shelby resident his entire life, he had a love of traveling and together with Ann, they traveled to every US state and 9 International countries. On one of their trips to Nome, Alaska, they slept on the Arctic Circle line. Nome was the closet they could get to the North Pole by car! Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Gus (Merle) Hemmerly and Daisy (Keckler-Reis) Hemmerly, his wife Ann Marie Hemmerly, one son Kevin Thomas Hemmerly, his great-great granddaughter Leilani Beya Perry, three brothers Merle Hemmerly, Jack Hemmerly, David (Roger) Hemmerly, two step-brothers Ronald Weaver, and Arthur Reis along with his sister Jill Moore, and step-sister Marjorie (Reis) Piper. Kenny is survived by six children, Michael (Elizabeth) Hemmerly of Bellingham WA, Jackie (Donald) Shaffer of Ontario OH, Keith Hemmerly of Everett WA, Daneen Porter of Shelby OH, Brian (Martha Fort) Hemmerly of Mansfield OH, and Keni Marie (Rodney) Morgan of Bucyrus OH, along with ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. The Barkdull Funeral Home & Crematory in Shelby will be assisting the family with final arrangements. Per Kenny's own request, there will be no calling hours or funeral services. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shelby Helpline Ministries located at 29 1/2 Walnut Street, Shelby Ohio 44875.