LONG

Karen R. Long, 78, of Rockford, Ohio, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 25, 2018, at Mercer Health in Coldwater, Ohio. 

She was born on September 27, 1940, in Dayton, Ohio, the daughter of Ellsworth and Mabel (Sluterbeck) Collins, both who preceded in death. 

On August 10, 1963, she married Edwin Long, who survives in Rockford.  She moved from Celina, Ohio, to Rockford, upon marrying Ed.  She became a homemaker and a member of the Rockford United Methodist Church.  She also babysat for over 30 years, enjoying every child she helped raise.  She enjoyed playing cards with the girls in the card club, finding treasures at garage sale, and attending craft fairs.  Ed and she had season tickets for Parkway’s sporting events—and loved watching the games.  Throughout the years, she had many dogs which she loved and adored, and leaves behind two special little dogs which she and Ed enjoyed, and loved to take for rides on their golf cart.   Most of all she loved having her children and grandchildren over to the house for dinner.  She loved her children and grandchildren, as well as her German grandchildren, whom she welcomed into her home as her own. 

Surviving in addition to her husband Ed, are their two daughters, Denise Long of Marion, Indiana, and Deb and her husband, Scott Call, of Rockford, along with 2 grandchildren:  Eleesha Long and Jordan Feldes.  Karen has 3 sisters who survive:  Nancy Miller and Dave Kuhn of Galion, Ohio; Celia Yenser of Watertown, Wisconsin; Reni and Jack Mescher of Coldwater, Ohio; many nieces and nephews; and one sister-in-law, Julie Long of Rockford.

Services for Karen will be held on Sunday, December 30, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, with Pastor Chip Steffy officiating.  Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. 

Friends may call at Ketcham-Ripley on Saturday from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., and on Sunday, one hour prior to the service. 

Memorials may be directed to the Rockford United Methodist Church Building Fund. 

Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com.

HEMMELGARN

Kenneth “Kenny” Hemmelgarn, age 85, passed away on December 25, 2018 at 8:45 pm in the Gardens in Celina.  

He was born December 12, 1933 in Mercer County to the late Ruben & Anna (Reier) Hemmelgarn. 

Kenneth is survived by his three daughters, Angela Hemmelgarn of Wilshire, Diana Hileman of Roanoke, TX, and Cynthia (Todd) Wurster of Celina; brother, Lyn (Mary) Hemmelgarn of Bellefontaine; two sisters, Alice (Don) Kill of Wapakoneta and Doris Makley of Coldwater; 7 grandchildren, Joshua, Michelle, Justin, Brandon, Lonnie, Andrew, and Stephanie; and 9 great-grandchildren. 

He is also preceded in death by a grandson, Steven Hileman; and a brother-in-law, Bob Makley.

Kenneth proudly served his nation in the United States Army.  He went on to drive truck for Minster Machine.  Kenneth was a member of the Mercer County Sportsman Club, Celina American Legion Post #210 and the Celina Moose Lodge #1473.  He truly loved spending time with his family and friends and was an avid American Red Cross blood donor. 

Visitation hours will be held from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Friday, December 28, 2018, in Cisco Funeral Home, Celina; where American Legion membership service will be held at 7:00 pm. 

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 29, 2018, in the funeral home; where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the services. 

Burial will follow at Mercer Memory Gardens, Celina, with Military Honors. 

Contributions can be made to State of the Heart Hospice, Coldwater, Ohio. 

Condolences can be left at www.ciscofuneralhome.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Cisco Funeral Home, Celina & St. Marys.