WILLIAM ROY "Bill" KERSLAKE

KERSLAKE WILLIAM "BILL" ROY KERSLAKE, age 85, passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2015. Beloved husband of 61 years of the late Pat (nee Brown). Loving father of Roy (Sue), Carol, Ann Over (Randy), and Tom (Sue). Grandfather of Michael and Todd Kerslake; Kyle and Kelsey Johnson; Sarah, Ryan (Erin) and Molly Over; Deanna Ockunzzi (Scott), Brian & David Kerslake. Great grandfather of Sammy Ockunzzi and Amy Over. Brother of the late Helen (late Bill) Anderson and Dorothy (late Bob) Wightman, uncle to five nephews and son of the late Roy and late Hazel (nee Cook) Kerslake. Bill was born and raised in Euclid, OH and went on to attend the Case Institute of Technology, where he was a standout in football, wrestling, and track. He was a member of the Case Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, where he developed life-long friendships. He graduated in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in industrial chemistry and later went on to earn a master's degree in chemical engineering. After college, Bill started his career at the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA, the forerunner of NASA), where he developed rocket propulsion, including the first ion thruster, over a career lasting 33 years. Bill also served in the Naval Reserves for several years allowing him to stay at NACA to work on rocket technologies. Bill married Pat in 1952 and moved to the west side of Cleveland, eventually settling in Middleburg Heights where they lived for over 50 years. Bill had numerous life interests including fishing, traveling the world with Pat and friends, golfing, gardening, cooking, playing bridge (achieving rank of life master) and poker, dancing with his sweetie Pat at the annual Women's Club dance, entertaining, investing, recreational softball and volleyball, and watching the Cleveland Indians. Bill and Pat were long time, active members of the Middleburg Heights Community Church serving in numerous ways including Bill as the church treasurer for approximately 20 years. Bill also volunteered as a Boy Scout troop leader and a trustee at Southwest General Hospital. Bill refereed high school wresting in the Cleveland area for over a decade and was a world-class heavyweight wrestler. From 1952 to 1960, he participated in three Olympics. He was the Pan-American Games heavyweight wrestling gold medalist and maintained an undefeated streak of 15 years as the the US heavyweight wrestling national champion. Bill has been inducted into several academic and athletic halls of fame, both local area and national. Bill loved to share his knowledge and personal stories, particularly in his later years. Bill was competitive and strived to be his best in his many pursuits, however, that didn't get in the way of having fun with family, friends, and colleagues, enjoying life, always with a big smile. He was also very proud of all his family and led the cheering section at sporting, music, and academic events of his children and grandchildren. Funeral service is Thursday, October 8, 2015 at the Middleburg Heights United Church of Christ, 7165 Big Creek Pkwy at 4 pm. Family will receive friends in THE TOMON & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 7327 PEARL RD., (S. OF BAGLEY), MIDDLEBURG HTS., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015 FROM 2-4 PM AND 6-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the MHUCC Church at the address listed above. www.tomonfh.com