Thomas Edward Kissell

Thomas Edward Kissell, 68, of Fremont, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017. He was born the son of Jerry and Dorothy (Stanley) Kissell in Lima, Ohio on March 22, 1949. He grew up in Columbus Grove where he played high school football, and later moved to Put-in-Bay High School in the 10th grade, where he met his wife of 49 years, Kathleen Wilhelm. Thomas loved to boast that he was the class valedictorian of Put-In-By High School, with a class size of a resounding two people. He joined the United States Air Force in 1971 and served as mechanic until 1975 on an airbase in Thailand during Vietnam. He later earned his Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Teaching, and acted as the Dean of Engineering at Terra State Community College in Fremont, where he also taught robotics. After retirement, Thomas was an independent consultant for the Kern Center, and wrote textbooks on electronic controls, as well as solar and wind power. In his spare time, he also enjoyed fishing with his brothers, and traveling in his RV.

Surviving are his wife, Kathy Kissell, of Fremont, children; Christopher Kissell, of Fremont, Kelly (Jeff) Starkey, of Richfield, brothers; Jerry (Sandy) Kissell of Bettsville, Bruce (Sue) Kissell of CA, Rich (Nancy) Kissell of TN, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Patricia Oren.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 19, 2017 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm at Keller-Koch-Chudzinski Funeral Home, 416 S. Arch Street, Fremont, Ohio, 43420. Funeral services will begin at 8pm at the funeral home. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Show Hope, P.O. Box 647, Franklin, TN 37065.