Kenneth William Herman

MESA – Kenneth William Herman passed away with his wife of 41 years, Claire, at his side on August 1, 2018. Ken was born in Toledo, Ohio on June 11, 1936 to Harry and Mary Kightlinger Herman, the youngest of five children. One of Ken’s sisters, June Marie, who died at the age of six months, was born June 11, 1932. He attended DeVilbiss High School and the University of Toledo and was employed 39 years in the accounting office at the Jeep Assembly Plant in Toledo. He married Sandra Smith and they had two children: a son Harry Herman and a daughter, Cheryl Herman Leppert. When Cheryl was about six and Henry was nine Ken began tent-camping with them. When they grew up he used the tent and camping gear with fishing buddies from work. Ken and Sandra were later divorced. Through a friend from high school, Ken learned that Claire, whom he dated in high school was a widow. He talked to her on the phone and met her at her home. They quickly decided to marry which they did the following June. The minute they married, Ken was a stepfather to Claire’s three children: a daughter, Nancy Thompson Swigonski and her brothers David and Daniel. Ken and Claire played bridge for many years and they golfed together frequently. He was a self –taught woodworker and slowly filled the garbage with woodworking tools and soon their cars were parked- you know where: on the driveway! They bought a small boat and found they enjoyed boating and had three larger boats over the years. When they sold the last boat they purchased a 38’ fifth-wheel travel trailer. By then they were square dancers and traveled in four states along with other dancers who also had travel trailers. Claire was a teacher and retired in 1995. Ken retired in 1996 and they spent five winters in Mesa, Arizona having purchased a mobile home in Cielo Grande Mobile Home Park. Ken had a heart attack in early 2000 and they decided this was a good time to sell the house in Ohio and move full time to Arizona which they did that summer. Ken really enjoyed living in Cielo Grand. He volunteered to do many thing in the park. He ran their golf league for five years, was the treasurer of the park’s Social Activities Club for five years and published a newsletter that contained the monthly events for park residence which he did for ten years. He became president of the board of their church that met in the park’s clubhouse. Ken always liked to sing and became a member of the church’s choir. He is survived by his wife, their children, three granddaughters, two nieces and their children. He was preceded in the death by his parents, three sisters, a brother and a son. He will be cremated and a memorial service, to be announced, will be held in the clubhouse of the Cielo Grande Mobile Home Park located at 9501 E Broadway Rd. in Mesa. A light lunch will be served.