Jim Kehrle

Lt. Col. James Allen “Jim” Kehrle, age 93, of Lexington, Ohio, died, May 19, 2022, at Riverside Hospital. He was born November 15, 1928, in Akron, Ohio, to the late Floyd and Dorothy (Workman) Kehrle. He moved from Lexington, Ohio to Upper Arlington, Ohio, in 2017 and recently resided at Brookdale Trillium in Dublin, Ohio. Jim graduated from Akron Kenmore High School and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force pilot training program in April 1950. After graduation, he served on active duty in Europe and the U.S. until 1955. In June 1954, Jim married Patty Vaught of Akron, enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard and began undergraduate studies at the University of Akron. He received his BA degree in June 1957 and began teaching elementary school for Akron Public Schools. He received his MS degree in education in 1962 and was assigned to Miller School where he was principal until 1967 when he and his family moved to Lexington, where he became a flying instructor for the Mansfield Air National Guard. After retiring in 1983, Jim began teaching in the Mansfield School System, retiring again in 1994. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of the Cross in Lexington, serving in the choir and on many committees and is now a member of First Community Church. His interests included the Mansfield Symphony Chorus, model aircraft and shipbuilding, and stained glass work. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Patty, in 1974 and is survived by his wife of 42 years, Belinda M. Peaslee; daughters Pamela G. (Rob) Gillespie of Stow, Ohio; Michelle R. (Ryan) Motherway of Reno, NV; Kristin T. (Jim) McCord of Columbus, Ohio; son Thomas M. (Brenda) Kehrle of Lexington; brother Michael C. (Carolyn) Kehrle of Columbus, Ohio; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by a brother Jerry E. (Nancy) of Kalamazoo, MI. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Church of the Cross or First Community Church in Jim’s memory. Funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Columbus, Ohio 43221. A Celebration of Life Reception will be held immediately following the service up until 2:00pm. Please visit www.schoedinger.com to share memories and condolences.