John Polhemus

John Randolph Polhemus, 49, formerly of Shelby, died Thursday, December 15, 2005, at MedCentral/Mansfield Hospital after a 15-year struggle with congestive heart failure. A lifelong resident of the Mansfield area, he was born January 27, 1956, in Evanston, Illinois. He graduated from Malabar High School, Class of 1974, and attended the University of Toledo. He belonged to the First Congregational Church. He retired after 25 years with United Telephone, and its successor company Sprint, most of his service being as an Installation and Repairman. John enjoyed swimming, fishing, music, traveling and loved animals, especially his pet Wolfhounds. He read extensively about history and current events to prepare for discussions with his friends and family. He frequently expressed controversial views on such subjects as civil liberties and the right-to-bear-arms in Letters to the Editor of this newspaper. Earlier in his life, John participated in politics as a precinct committeeman. As an Eagle Scout, he attended the International Boy Scout Jamboree in Japan. He also traveled to Germany and six times to China where he married his wife, Li Juan Tian. She lived in Shenyang, a few hours from the North Korean and Manchurian borders but went with him to Guangzhou formerly Canton across from Hong Kong in the southern part of China. There he taught English to Chinese middle school children.

In addition to his wife, John is survived by his stepson and her son, Bo Zhang; his former wife, Deborah Robbins Scott, and their three daughters, Heather Justice of Plymouth, Sarah Dunn and her husband, Craig, and Elizabeth Polhemus, all of Gray, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Lindsay Justice, Olivia Justice, Abigail Dunn, Tanner Dunn and Andrea Polhemus; father, Joseph Polhemus; stepmother, Sophie Crittenden Polhemus; and a sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and Ted Stiffler of Mansfield. His mother, Berenice E. Polhemus, preceded him in death.

Memorial services will be held Monday, December 19, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors with calling immediately prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made at the funeral home to the Alzheimer's Association of North Central Ohio in memory of John's mother, Berenice E. Polhemus.