Meryln H. "Mike" Keener

Merlyn H. Keener, 87, of Bolivar died Friday, November 14, 2014, at his home after an illness of several years. Born March 3, 1927, in Dover, he was a son of the late George and Iva (Porter) Keener.

"When I was a boy, I'd rake leaves, carry out ashes, mow lawns anything for money," Merlyn used to say. Known to many as "Mike," he also delivered The Daily Reporter for a number of years. All the money he made went to his mother to help pay bills.

Merlyn quit school in 1943 to work fulltime for Becker Farms. Over the years, he helped the Beckers wash milk bottles, deliver milk, pick strawberries, peaches and apples and work in the potato fields. "I did anything but milk the cows," he recalled.

Music played a big part in his life. Without instruction, he learned to play the fiddle at an early age, starting with "My Old Kentucky Home," a tune his older sister was trying to master for her violin lesson. After listening to her practicing, he borrowed his dad's fiddle and was soon playing the tune "by ear." The second song he learned to play was "Old Susan Jane," a fiddle tune his dad taught him.

Later, he learned to play guitar, alternating instruments while participating in a number of area bands, but he was never happier than when his fiddle set the pace for a lively square dance.

Drafted into the Army in 1945, just after World War II ended, he accepted a subsequent offer to "re-enlist" for three years in exchange for a discharge and $100. He also was permitted to choose his field of service, his job preference and his initial assignment. He chose the Army Air Corps. Following basic training, he trained as an airplane mechanic. Then, as he had requested, he was assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at Dayton. He specialized in the B-29, a plane he loved and always credited with winning the war.

As a flight test engineer, he was involved in early experiments in self-ejection parachutes and in-flight refueling at Muroc Army Air Force Base in California, now Edwards Air Force Base. He also spent about five months, including his 21st birthday, at Ladd Field in Fairbanks, Alaska, testing the effects of severe cold on the operation of B-29s.

Following his discharge, Mike went to work for The Timken Co. at its Gambrinus plant. By 1992, when he retired with 43 years of service, he was the oldest mechanic in Department 189. After retiring, he went to work part-time at Buck Hill Fabricating Inc. of Canton, helping to rebuild Timken straddle trucks.

Mike and his wife, Doris Moser Keener, observed their 64th wedding anniversary on May 19, 2014. They reared four daughters: Debra (Robert) Porterfield of Indianapolis, who died in 2008, Sandra (Tedd) Finlayson of Bolivar, Brenda (John) Bitikofer of Strasburg and Melissa Lawrence of Massillon.

He also is survived by 12 grandchildren: Megan and Andrew Porterfield and Susan Kohlhaas of Indianapolis, Kristina Finlayson of Doylestown, Julia Finlayson of Bolivar, Gregory Finlayson of Kettering, Eric and Adam Bitikofer of Strasburg, Aaron Bitikofer of Dover, Sarah Covell and Jessica Marsh of Massillon and Rachel Macris of Canton.

There are 17 great-grandchildren: Lance, Elizabeth, Charles and Jack Kohlhaas of Indianapolis, Hannah and Zachary Finlayson of Kettering, Shay Finlayson and Elliott Lewandowski of Doylestown, Aleese, Lillian and Andersen Bitikofer of Strasburg, Layla and Aiyana Bitikofer of Dover, Bryn and Jacob Marsh and Scott Covell of Massillon and Michael Macris of Canton.

Mike also is survived by a sister and two brothers: Kathleen Jackson and Joe and Arthur(Doris) Keener of Dover; two sisters-in-law, Wanda and Rose Keener; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his daughter, Debra, and his parents, he was preceded in death by four siblings: Ruth Devore, Dorothy Barker and Dave and Reuben Keener, and a sister-in-law, Nancy Keener.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held at First Lutheran Church in Strasburg on Wednesday, November 19, at 11 a.m., with Pastor Karen Biggerstaff officiating. Interment will be in Dover Burial Park. Following the service of committal, a meal will be served in the church fellowship hall. Friends are invited to call at Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover on Tuesday, November 18, from 4 to 6 p.m. and at the church an hour before services. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Mike, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Mike's memory be made to First Lutheran Church, 211 Eighth St. S.W., Strasburg, Ohio 44680, or to Community Hospice, 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.