Kenneth D. Emerson

Kenneth D. Emerson died early Tuesday morning on his 85th birthday, March 22, 2022, at Altercare of Bucyrus.



He was born March 22, 1937, in Lynchburg, Va., to the late Frank Emerson and Gail (Woodall) Emerson Grasley. The Emersons moved to Bucyrus when Ken was a freshman and he graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1955. Ken also met Dorothy Groves when he moved to Bucyrus. The high school sweethearts were married in 1957 and she survives.



“Act like you want to” was one of Ken’s favorite phrases for his beloved grandchildren. “He never could do enough” was his family’s description of Ken’s active and full life. A member of the Ohio National Guard for two years, he worked at The Timken Company for 30 years, retiring as supervisor of training. He spent another 12 years in customer service for Bucyrus Blades. Ken was active in city government, serving on Bucyrus City Council for 12 years and on the Board of Zoning Appeals for five years.



His service also included work on the football sidelines at Wynford High School football games and sitting on the boards of the Bucyrus Area YMCA, the Bucyrus golf course and United Way among others.



Ken loved sports, playing many rounds of golf and games of softball. Known as the “Scuz Brothers,” Ken and his brother Tom joyously coached Little League baseball when their kids were young. He was a fan of the Cleveland Indians and Ohio State Buckeyes, serving as an usher at OSU football games for 14 years. When he got older, Ken took up pickleball and enjoyed that game’s local community.



A Civil War buff, Ken enjoyed gardening and cooking, with soups being one of his specialties. Friday night dinners out with friends at the Moose lodge and other local spots were favorite pastimes for Ken and Dorothy, who kept busy taking their grandchildren on trips and attending their activities.



Ken is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy Emerson; children, Rhonda Rohrer, Shelly Rae (Jim) Weaver, and Douglas (Ruth) Emerson; grandchildren, Jacob, Nikki, Justin, and Lindsay; brother, Richard (Linda) Emerson; and sister, Mary Jane Hord.



In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by brother, Tom Emerson.



All services will be held at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. Family will receive friends on Friday, March 25 from 5-8 p.m. and the funeral will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Pastor Mike Corwin officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.



Memorial contributions can be made payable to a charity of the donor’s choice and given at the funeral home. Memories and photos can be shared on Ken’s tribute page at www.wisefuneral.com.