Kenneth C. Diefenthaler

Kenneth Kenny C. Diefenthaler, 81, of Martin, Ohio passed away Thursday evening, November 6, 2008 at the Genoa Retirement Village, Genoa, Ohio, after a lengthy illness. Kenny was born December 13, 1926 in Curtice, Ohio to Charles J. and Clara Hasenkamp Diefenthaler. He was a 1944 graduate of Clay High School in Oregon, Ohio. He played basketball four years, was a member of the Clay FFA Chapter, serving as president in 1943. In 1944 he won the State FFA Public Speaking contest in Columbus, Ohio, at the annual state convention. He represented all of Ohios FFA chapters at the North Atlantic Regional FFA conference in Massachusetts. Kenny was also the first FFA State Farmer at Clay High School. In January 1945 he entered the U.S. Army and served with the 633rd Engineering Battalion, Fort Lewis, Washington, until his honorable discharge in August 1947. Kenny received the WWII Victory Medal. When Kenny returned home he operated his fathers ditching machine. In 1951 he bought the machine from his father and went into business for himself. He owned and operated Diefenthaler Drainage for 43 years. In 1994 his son Mark took over the business, but Kenny still worked alongside his son until 2000, when his health would no longer permit him to do so. Kenny was an original member of the Ohio Drainage Contractors Assoc., serving as president and later on the board of directors. He was also a past member of the Zoning Board of Appeals for Clay Township during the 1990s through the early 2000. Kenny was a 4-H advisor in Lucas County for 10 years in the late 1940s and early 1950s. On May 15, 1954 he married Shirley Ann Stiller at Trinity Evangelical and Reformed Church in Elliston, Ohio and they have been together for 54 happy years. They have been active in their church for many years as members of the choir and Sunday school teachers. They loved to go dancing and enjoyed traveling to many states, including Hawaii. In his spare time Kenny enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and tending his flowers, especially his rosebushes. Kenny was a loving husband and father who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He also loved to talk and share a good joke. Kenny is survived by his wife Shirley, sons, Mark of Martin, David Sandra of Wilmington, DE, sister Viola Nelson of Oregon, OH, brother Donald Alma Diefenthaler of Genoa, sister-in-laws, Anabel Diefenthaler of Martin, Mildred Diefenthaler of Sylvania, OH, and Helen Diefenthaler of Graytown, OH, along with several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Glen, Lester, Clifford, and Richard, and brother-in-law, Edward Nelson. A funeral service for Kenny will be conducted at 11 AM, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, Genoa, OH. Interment will follow in the Elliston Cemetery, Elliston, Ohio. Visitation will be held from 2-4 6-8 PM on Monday, November 10, 2008 in the funeral home. Memorial contributions, in Kennys memory, may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, OH, Allen-Clay Joint Fire Dist. Station #3, Genoa, OH, Genoa Retirement Village, or the donors choice. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com. The family of Kenny would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, staff, and aids, at St. Charles-Mercy Hospital, the Genoa Retirement Village, and Hospice of Northwest Ohio for the wonderful and loving care they gave Kenny throughout his illness. These deeds will be treasured and never forgotten.