In Memory
KENNETH B. PARMELEE
May 17, 1949 - Oct. 30, 2011 NILES - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4: 32 Kenneth Bruce Parmelee died of cancer in his home in Niles, Michigan, on Sunday, October 30, 2011. With him at the time was his devoted wife, Diane Dudek Parmelee, and his animal friend, Alex. Prepared, yet gone too soon, Kenneth was 62 years old at the time of his death. "Kenny" was born on May 17, 1949, in Mishawaka, Indiana, to Louis Ray Parmelee Jr. and Mae Ernestine (Jennings) Parmelee.
One of eight children, his surviving siblings are sisters, Barbara Snyder, South Bend, Indiana, and Beverly Harris and husband, Earl, Emory, Texas; brothers, Louis Parmelee III and wife, Glenda of Tippecanoe, Indiana, David Parmelee and wife, Vicki, Dennis Parmelee and wife, Mary, and Phillip Parmelee, all of South Bend, Indiana.
Childhood memories are of Kenny's comedic ways, his love of music, motorcycles and cars, and his early compassion for animals and the suffering of others.
Kenny attended Washington High School in South Bend, Indiana.
He was employed by Hover Trucking. Kenny and Diane were married on June 25, 1988, an eternal union of love and mutual respect. Kenny accepted early retirement in 1989 and turned his love and attention to family and spiritual growth. His life became one of kindness and contemplation. He loved being a Dad, gardening, and sharing tomatoes with his Mother. He embraced learning, and satisfied his innate curiosity with a passion for reading and Biblical study with family members. He accepted Christ as his Savior. Kenny considered his greatest life accomplishment to be his relationship with God, and his greatest joy in this life to be his family.
Preceded in death by his father and oldest brother, Thomas, Kenny is survived by his wife and the above mentioned family members. His other surviving "Joys in Life" include his three sons, Troy Alan Parmelee and wife, Carrie of New Carlisle, Indiana, Travis Ray Parmelee and Amy of Jacksonville, Florida, and Daniel Ryan Parmelee of Niles Michigan; his beautiful granddaughters, Brooke Ann Parmelee and Bria Rose Parmelee of South Bend, Indiana; mother-in-law, Irene Dudek; sisters-in-law, Laurie DeBroka and Christine Chudzicki; numerous nieces and nephews and a lifetime of good friends.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. today, November 2, 2011, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, where a Remembrance service will take place at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011, in Christ the King Catholic Church, South Bend, Indiana. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Indiana.
The family wishes to express gratitude to all the staff at Michiana Hematology Oncology, and Memorial Hospital for the excellent care provided to Kenny during his extended illness, and to Hospice at Home, Buchanan, Michigan, for joining them in Kenny's final days of palliative care. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Road, Buchanan, MI 49107. To send condolences online, please visit Kaniewski.com.
Published by South Bend Tribune from Nov. 1 to Nov. 2, 2011.
05/10/2023 EJS
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