Kit A. Conwell, 82 of Mansfield passed away late Sunday evening, January 12, 2025 in Galion Hospital.
He was born on August 14, 1942 in Ashland, the son of the late Ralph and Donna (nee Arnold) Conwell.
Kit graduated from Polk High School, Class of 1960. It was in the 5th grade that he was passing notes to the love of his life, the former Karen J. Kramer. The couple were married in 1961. Kit was able to further his education while Karen worked to support their family, and he earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Ashland College in 1965.
He began his teaching career at Ashland Middle School as a history teacher and retired in 1994. In 1992, he was recognized as teacher of the year. His love of history was great. For more than 30 years of his career, he covered course work on the Civil War. Kit and his family traveled to every battlefield many times over and made frequent visits to the Shenandoah National Park. Along with teaching, Kit coached Intermural Basketball and 9th grade baseball and assisted one of his best friend fellow educator, Robert Nusbaum with Outdoor Club.
Kit was a member of Ashland’s Battery D, 1st Ohio Light Artillery and enjoyed participating in reenactments. In his earlier years, he served as a Boy Scout master with the First United Methodist Church. He loved to travel in his retirement years in their motorhome on the Oregan trail and Lewis & Clark trail, to Alaska and bicycle the entire Mississippi Riverbed. Along with his fellow teachers, Max Arnold and Doug Culler, he enjoyed motorcycle trips.
Kit was a devoted member of the Little Washington Congregational Church in Mansfield where he served as a deacon. He was an avid Cleveland Indians and Browns fan along with the Ohio State University and his alma mater, Ashland University. In his spare time, he restored seven John Deere tractors throughout his life.
He is survived by loving wife of 64 years, Mrs. Karen Conwell of Mansfield; one daughter, Laura (Michael) Haselton of Tampa, Florida; one grandson, his grandfather’s namesake, Kit Haselton of Tampa, Florida; his siblings, Daniel & Tabitha Conwell, Elaine (Bill Barr) Hootman, Karen & Dean Hawley, Dennie & Jeanette Biddinger and Lee & Becky Conwell; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Kit is preceded in death by his children, Tom Conwell who passed away on June 4, 1992 and Susan E. Conwell who passed away on October 1, 1991.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. in the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Ziadeh presiding. Interment will be in the Ashland Cemetery. Friends and family may visit from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Little Washington Congregational Church, 2323 Washington Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44903 or to Wounded Warrior Project, support.woundedwarriorproject.org.
For those unable to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.
Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home
Website: denbowfh.com