Joel Sanborn Kettenring

KETTENRING, Joel Sanborn 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, TN, at 2:30am 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 Kettering & wife Cristy (Dixon) of Beavercreek, OH, son Keith Kettenring & wife Rhonda (Spruill) of Ooltewah, TN, daughter Kristine Winkler & husband Pete of Ooltewah, TN, and son Kevin Kettenring and wife Stephanie (White) of Ringgold, GA.

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, Tennessee, 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, NC, and walking his loyal dog Mister.

After retiring and living in Columbia, NC, for seven years, the Kettenrings moved to Chattanooga, TN, to be near family, where they have resided for the past three years and attended Grace Baptist Church on Shallowford Road.

Rev. Kettenring is preceded in death by his father, Grover Lee Kettenring, his mother Emily (Sanborn) Kettenring, and two sisters Jean Louise Bricker of Huntsville, AL, 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, TN); Krista (Kettering) and Mark Thobe (Kettering, OH); Allison (Winkler) and Nelson Pettit (Chattanooga, TN); Tyler and Ali (Labig) Kettering (Boiling Springs, NC); Nathanael Kettenring (Chattanooga, TN); Erin (Kettenring) and Ross Riley (Danville, VA); Jenna Kettenring (Chattanooga, TN); Meredith (Kettenring) and Makenzie Vandiver (Ringgold, GA); Noah Kettenring (Ringgold, GA); , twelve great-grandchildren, and many friends and family.

Visitation hours will be on Thursday evening, October 30, from 5-8pm at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Brainerd Chapel in Chattanooga, TN, and also on Saturday, November 1, from 11am-2pm at First Baptist Church in Wellington, OH, followed by a memorial service at 2:30pm. 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.

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