Joel Kettenring
Joel Sanborn Kettenring went home to be with the Lord he dearly loved after faithfully serving Him for 67 years and after a prolonged battle with dementia and a recent struggle with heart disease. Reverend Kettenring, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in Chattanooga, at 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
He was attended during his final hours by his loving wife and ministry partner of 65 years, Pauline (Jewett) Kettenring, and his four children and their spouses, son, Ken Kettenring and wife Cristy (Dixon) of Beavercreek, Oh., son, Keith Kettenring and wife Rhonda (Spruill) of Ooltewah, daughter, Kristine Winkler and husband Pete of Ooltewah, and son Kevin Kettenring and wife Stephanie (White) of Ringgold.
Joel was born on March 30, 1928, in New London, Oh., to Rev. Grover Lee and Emily (Sanborn) Kettenring and graduated from New London High School in New London, Oh. in 1946. He earned a B.A. in English from Bryan College in Dayton, in 1951, a M.Div. from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, In., in 1955, and a Th.M. from Central Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, Mn. in 1965.
Joel Kettenring served as a pastor, Bible college professor, missionary and mission board executive, and ministry director in cities throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Jamaica. Places of ministry included Grace Baptist in Boyceville, WI; Faith Baptist Church in St. Paul, Mn.; Hillview Baptist Church and Fairview Baptist Bible College in Montego Bay, Jamaica; First Baptist Church in Wellington, Oh.; Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatona, MN; and while in Cleveland, Oh., at Baptist Mid-Missions, Baptist for Israel, and Remnant Ministries (formerly the Cleveland Hebrew Mission).
Joel especially enjoyed preaching and teaching, reading, spending time with family and friends at their home on the Albemarle Sound, N.C., and walking his loyal dog Mister.
After retiring and living in Columbia, N.C., for seven years, the Kettenrings moved to Chattanooga, to be near family, where they have resided for the past three years and attended Grace Baptist Church on Shallowford Road.
Rev. Kettenring was preceded in death by his father, Grover Lee Kettenring, his mother, Emily (Sanborn) Kettenring, and two sisters, Jean Louise Bricker of Huntsville, and Anna Katherine Hemberger of Aurora, Il.
He is survived by his wife, his children and their spouses, grandchildren Leah (Kettering) and Philip Sparling (Bellbrook, Oh.); Kyle and Mary (Richardson) Kettering (Xenia, Oh.); Emily (Winkler) and Paul Luikart of (Chattanooga); Krista (Kettering) and Mark Thobe (Kettering, Oh.); Allison (Winkler) and Nelson Pettit (Chattanooga); Tyler and Ali (Labig) Kettering (Boiling Springs, N.C.); Nathanael Kettenring (Chattanooga); Erin (Kettenring) and Ross Riley (Danville, Va.); Jenna Kettenring (Chattanooga); Meredith (Kettenring) and Makenzie Vandiver (Ringgold); Noah Kettenring(Ringgold); 12 great-grandchildren, and many friends and family.
Visitation hours will be on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-8 p.m. at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Brainerd Chapel in Chattanooga, and also on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Wellington, Oh., followed by a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be at New Brighton Cemetery in Brighton, Oh..
Rev. Kettenring's family requests that memorial contributions be made to either Remnant Ministries (PO Box 24398, Cleveland, Oh. 44124) or to Homestead House (8318 Heron Circle, Ooltewah, Tn. 37363).
The family would especially like to thank Hospice and their wonderful nurses for the tender loving care they provided for Joel in his last days.
Joel's family and friends will miss him dearly and long remember him for his kind and humorous manner and his deep love for Christ, his family, and the special Christian friends he ministered to and with throughout his lifetime.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, East Brainerd Chapel, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanoogaeastbrainerdchapel.com.