Clayton A. Guedel

Clayton A. Guedel, 86, of Dover, Ohio died peacefully Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in McKinley Health Care at Canton.

Clayton was born April 17, 1923 in Dover, Ohio, the son of the late Arthur and Edna (Maurer) Guedel.

He was a 1942 graduate of Strasburg High School where he was the Head Student Manager for football and basketball teams his junior and senior years.

After graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in January of 1943. After basic training in Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina, he served two and a half years overseas in England with the 303rd Station Hospital as a PFC assigned to the x-ray department for two years as a typist of all medical reports, etc. and then finished out his army career with the 554 Military Police Escort Guard Company before receiving his honorable discharge in February 1946 with a Good Conduct Medal, EAME THR SERV Medal and Victory Medal.

A few months after his discharge, he enrolled at Kent State University in Kent where he went for a year before taking a job with Republic Steel of Massillon, Ohio where he worked on and off for 31 years before his retirement in 1983. While he was employed with Republic, he had responsible jobs in the Industial Engineering, Enduro Cost, Accounts Payable, and Payroll Departments.

In the 1960's, he helped coach and manage teams in the Dover Baseball Minor, Little, and Pony Leagues. He was a life member of New Phila VFW Post 1445 and it's burial detail. He was also a member of the American Legion #522 of Strasburg and at one time served as their adjutant for a couple of years. When he and his family moved to Parral, he served on the village council for several years, became President of Council and was elected Mayor for a four year term in 1972. He enjoyed playing cards, shooting pool, traveling, taking care of his lawn, being with his family and friends, and watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up.

In addition to his parents and his wife Elsie (Emig) Guedel, he was preceded by his sister Marjorie (Guedel) Huebner, mother in law and father in law, Carrie (Beaber) and William Emig, seven brothers in law, Elton Emig, Gene Emig, Jim Collins, Rod Ouimette, Joe DeMarco, Bob Bills, and Art Winkler.

He and his wife, now deceased (Elsie Ina Emig) of Michigan joined the Dover St. John's United Church of Christ the day they got married and almost celebrated 60 years of marriage before she died of cancer on January 16, 2008.

He is survived by his daughter Connie (husband, Dan) Burrier of Dover and his son, Leslie (wife, Kay Schilling) Guedel of Kalamazoo, Michigan; five grandchildren, Trevor (Amy) Burrier of Dover, Brent (Heather) Burrier of Bolivar, Amy (Robert) Russell of Browns Mills, New Jersey, Eric and David Guedel both of Kalamazoo, Michigan; seven great grandchildren, Tyler, Katie, Breanna, Hayden, Alayna, Robert, and Max; four sisters, Gladys (Guedel) Fry of Michigan, Dorothy (Guedel) DeMarco of New Philadelphia, Lucille (Guedel) Winkler of New Philadelphia, and Loretta (Rodney) Guedel Archinal of Navarre.

A funeral service celebrating Clayton's life will be held Monday, October 5, 2009 at 11am in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory at Dover with Revs. Michael Lowry and Edwin Shriver officiating. Interment will be beside his wife in Dover Burial Park where the New Philadelphia VFW and Strasburg American Legion will conduct military honors. A luncheon will be served following the committal at St. John's United Church of Christ in Dover. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 5-8pm. Those unable to attend or who may wish to express a fond memory of Clayton may sign the online register book by visiting the "obituaries" link on the funeral home website at www.tolandherzig.com

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Tuscarawas County, 201 W. 3rd St., Dover, Ohio 44622 or St. John's United Church of Christ, 409 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, Ohio 44622

Toland-Herzig, Dover
330 343-6132