GLEMONT — Kenneth Hurst Wobbecke, 89, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, succumbing to MDS despite a valiant effort to overcome its relentless assault.
He was born March 20, 1920, in Newark, the youngest of three children of William and Mary (Hurst) Wobbecke. He characterized his life as a series of fortuitous coincidences which resulted in full scholarships to the University of Rochester and The Harvard Business School, a non-combat assignment at the Officer’s Club in Paris during World War II, where he was responsible for maintaining an adequate supply of liquor for the officers, and a plum job as a financial analyst for the Standard Oil Company, where he worked for 20 years.
He regarded his greatest accomplishment the acquisition of the 600 acres straddling two miles of the Mohican River south of Loudonville, which he developed into Mohican Wilderness Campground and Kenhurst Valley. His love of nature and scouting provided the impetus for transforming the farmland into a camping and canoeing resort catering to families and youth groups. He incorporated horseback riding and a weekly children’s camp into the facilities along with other outdoor recreation and hosted the Mohican Bluegrass Festival every September featuring nationally known talent. His love of history and nature influenced everything he did.
Kenneth pioneered the Mohican tourist area and served as past president of the Mohican Tourist Association and Ohio Campground Owners Association. In his spare time, Ken served as editor of the Mohican Country and Ohio Camper. He was active in the Harvard Business Club of Cleveland.
He is survived by his second wife, Ann (Waltz); their children, Molly, Jenny, Bruce and Sarah; and the children of his first wife, Connie (Sheldon) Edelman, Norman (Sonia) Wobbecke, Janet (Courtenay) Hudson; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his sister, Jean Varner of Hilton Head, S.C.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Wobbecke; a brother, Jim Wobbecke; brother-in-law, Frank Varner; and first wife, Mary Ellen (Cadwell) Wobbecke.
A celebration of life service will be held on Oct. 11 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Ken’s house at Mohican Wilderness Campground. The Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home of Mount Vernon is honored to serve the family of Kenneth H. Wobbecke.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Knox County, 17700 Coshocton Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050; or to the Muskingum Valley Council BSA, 734 Moorehead Ave., Zanesville, OH 43701. This obituary and guest registry are online at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
