LeRoy was born in Mansfield, OH to The Rev. Burton Edward and Mary Jane (Probst) Kettinger. As a child and teen, he lived in Cleveland and Warren, OH and was active in the Ohio Conference of the Free Methodist Church enjoying Bible quizzing, preaching competitions, singing in church, and assisting his father with worship.

He attended Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, NY and while there met Wilma Lawson. They were married on June 8, 1963, and in the reception line after the wedding was offered the opportunity to Pastor a Free Methodist Church in New Middletown, OH which he and Wilma accepted.

That began a wonderful career in ministry including appointments at New Middletown, Cleveland, OH, Director of Youth Ministries for the Free Methodist Church, Winona Lake, IN, Columbus, OH, and Seattle, WA, as well as graduating from Youngstown State University, OH and Asbury Theological Seminary, KY where he completed his Master of Divinity degree.

After pastoring the Seattle First FMC at Seattle Pacific University, LeRoy accepted a position at Roberts Wesleyan University where he worked for nine years as Vice President for Student Services. He also served as Dean of the Chapel, and during that time completed his Doctor of Divinity at United Theological Seminary, OH. The years at Roberts were some of his favorites, and the opportunity to minister to and build relationships with students were memories he cherished. Those years also included an interim appointment at the Lockport FMC, NY, and summers serving as the Camp Evangelist at church camps across the Northeast, Midwest, and Canada.

After Roberts, LeRoy returned to ministry as the lead Pastor of the Dearborn Free Methodist Church, MI, followed by a few more years working in higher education, consulting, and time as Pastor of Christ Chapel Wesleyan Church, Hamlin, NY. In 1998, he became the Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Auburn, NY, where he and Wilma began what resulted in 25 years of ministry in the Auburn community.

LeRoy loved his Auburn parishioners, friends, and network of ministers. He retired from the First United Methodist Church but never really retired. His most recent ministries included serving as Chaplain at Auburn Community Hospital, Chaplain of The Commons at St. Anthony, and Pastor of St. Andrews United Methodist Church, Mottville, NY, as well as officiating at numerous weddings and funerals.

LeRoy was someone who enjoyed people. You could often find him at a local diner with friends, participating in community events, taking part in a prayer breakfast with the local ministerial association, or spending time with his ever-growing family. He loved his family, ministry, and Auburn community, and throughout his lifetime kept a close association with his home state of Ohio spending summers at the Kettinger Cottage in Mansfield, OH.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 60 years, Wilma; children: Kirk (Michelle), Kevin (Elsa), Valerie (Darby), Janelle (Rudy); 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother, Burt Kettinger.

A Memorial Service will be held at Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church, N. Chili, NY, on Saturday, July 8t, 2023 at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Roberts Wesleyan University or Northeastern Seminary, 2301 Westside Drive, Rochester, NY 14624.

Please leave a message for the family at https://farrellsfuneralserviceinc.com/.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Citizen from May 31 to Jun. 8, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for LeRoy Kettinger

Sponsored by Farrell's Funeral Service, Inc. - Auburn.

11 Entries

Mark G Wheaton

October 16, 2023

I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend, LeRoy Kettinger. Compassionate, kind, gentle, and always accessible, LeRoy was the epitome of integrity and grace. A friend for over 30 years, I was privileged to know he and Wilma, Kirk, Kevin, Valerie, and Janelle during their all too brief stay in Rochester, NY. Among my great joys in life was being the teacher of instrumental music and band to each of his four terrific children in the Churchville-Chili Central School District in Churchville, NY. I have such wonderful memories of each of them. They endured years of teasing (especially the girls) at my hands, and for that alone, I'll always love them!

LeRoy was respected for his commitment to his family and faith, as much as for his wisdom by all who knew him. I will never forget his comforting words of love and encouragement the day before I faced open heart surgery. I remember telling him at that moment "LeRoy, if I survive to see you on the other side of this event, I want to grow up to be just like you." He just roared!

Heartfelt sympathy and condolences to Wilma, Kirk, Kevin, Val, and Janelle, and their extended families. The world has lost one of God's finest human beings.

Mark G Wheaton, Chili, NY and Wolfeboro, NH

Bethany Arnold

June 27, 2023

I will miss seeing Leroy in the halls of the Auburn YMCA. He was a pleasure to talk to. He would always give you his full attention and really listen to what you had to say (even while trying to get his workout in lol). His gentle nature and soothing voice were a magnet to our many members who enjoyed his conversation as much as I did. I will miss you my friend. Rest in peace.

Linda Middlebrooks

June 14, 2023

So hard to believe so many years have passed since LeRoy and young family were in Seattle! I am sure your family will miss him so much! Condolences.

Donnette (Hurd-Pratt) Kugel

June 11, 2023

Wilma and I attended youth Camp together in NY. I still have a copy of your wedding picture, and find it hard to believe the time that has passed. May God's peace surround your family at this time.

Jay Grimes

June 10, 2023

Dear Wilma and family. So sorry to hear about LeRoy's passing. I am remembering special times at the Free Methodist Church in Columbus, OH; watching our children grow together and many other events. May God be close to you at this difficult time. Jay and Sharon Grimes and Family.

Sharon Porter

June 10, 2023

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Rebecca Letterman

June 9, 2023

Leroy Kettinger was "a prince among men." He was the Dean of Students when I was at Roberts Wesleyan University in the 1980s. I would see him at Homecomings years after that, and when I was working on my PhD, he pulled me aside and told me to see him when I was done: that thatbkind of study takes a lot out of you and that it took him a year to recover - he wanted me to not be surprised by that. The past few years, I had the joy of seeing him and his dear wife Wilma Sundays at our church Community of the Savior (and many of us will always remember him and Kevin and Elsa teaming up to do wonderful presentations on the Stations of the Cross during Holy Week). Just a couple weeks before he died, he and I had a wonderful conversation when he asked me my perspective (as an ordained woman) about some ideas in a book on "feminist theology" he was reading. That is how humble he was - the statesman asking me for my perspective because he recognized and valued it would come from a different lived experience. I thanked him that day for how much he meant to me. How glad I am that we shared that final "coffee and conversation." All those who loved him are in my prayers at this great loss (and heaven's gain).

Don Mohr

June 8, 2023

I sang with "The Disciples" - a male quartet from RWC when LeRoy was pastor in Columbus. We did a Sunday evening concert & stayed overnight w/ various members of the church. I especially remember how encouraging and kind he was to us, 3 of us entered the ministry after college. I retired in 2021after 43 years as an FM pastor.

Raeanne (Thompson) Barlow

June 8, 2023

I´m so sorry for your loss; but also so happy for Dean Kettinger. I know for him to live was Christ and to die gain. I have such fond memories of him as my professor, mentor and boss. I was talking about him recently because of graduation season. As the Dean of Students he was tasked with announcing the names at graduation. He mispronounced my name! He felt so badly about it. He told me he wasnt worried about names he knew- and he knew mine well...but it caught him off guard. I will always remember him fondly. Thank you for sharing him with so many people. May you all find comfort and peace in the presence of Jesus. With Love, Raeanne

Shauna Hauert

May 31, 2023

Oh, how our hearts ache with yours at the profound loss you are experiencing, and we also rejoice in knowing that Uncle LeRoy has been welcomed home with a most joy-filled "Well done, good and faithful one!" When I heard of his sudden home-going, the hymn that came to my mind was this: "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we´ll sing and shout the victory!" Praying for you all that you will experience in the deepest of ways the very real presence of Jesus, Emmanuel, as you dance the dance of grief mixed with joy. With great love, Carl & Shauna (Kettinger) Hauert and family

Tom Adessa

May 31, 2023

Our hearts now have a void that will never be filled. Leroy was such apart of our lives in many ways. He was a daily inspiration, his Sunday service was a weekly event we looked forward to. And his fellowship and love for people were second to none. He lived his life in service to Jesus and has received his reward. We will plant a special "Tree of Life" on our property in his memory.

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