CUYAHOGA FALLS _ Kenneth Thomas Krisher, 78, a thoughtful, kind and honest man, died Sunday, January 19, 2014 at the Goerlich Center, an Alzheimer's care nursing home in Sylvania, Ohio.
He spent much of his life taking care of his family, never intruding but always available when needed. He and his late wife, Leona, once drove 350 miles through a blinding snowstorm to help when their infant granddaughter was in intensive care with a respiratory virus.
His hard work allowed him to retire at age 55, and he enjoyed every day watching baseball, playing with grandchildren and walking in the sunshine near his home in Florida, where he and Leona spent their winters.
Mr. Krisher was born on Nov. 4, 1935 in Akron, graduating from Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1953. He worked at a men's clothing store, earning money to attend Kent State University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business. Between high school and college, he served two years in the U.S. Army at the end of the Korean War.
He retired in 1990 from Roadway Express, where he served more than 25 years and rose from salesman to director of marketing. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls, and of the Civitan Club. He spent many evenings traveling to area restaurants, collecting money from the club's candy sales to benefit charities.
For years he spent summers coaching Little League baseball, enjoying it so much that he managed teams well after his children had aged through the league.
Preceded in death by Leona, his wife of 49 years, he is survived by children, Kimberly Montoney of Cuyahoga Falls, Terry Krisher of Lakeland, Fla., Gary (Rungnapha) Krisher of Athens, Ohio, and Tom (Beth) Krisher of Saline, Mich.; grandchildren, Roberto, Ruby, Gaewelyn and Teerayute Krisher, Donald and Dalton Montoney, Grace and Anna Krisher, Amber (Jarrett) Pritt and Mary Dunn; and three great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 at the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in The First United Methodist Church, 245 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, Dr. David Baker officiating. Interment will be in Chestnut Hill Memorial Park.
The family requests memorial contributions be made in to the Goerlich Center, 5200 Harroun Road, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560. Services entrusted to Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147.
Please click on this link to view Mr. Krisher's video tribute: http://videos.lifetributes.com/459962